Obama Administration Inches Closer to Pipeline Approval By Richard Wolf, | USA TODAY | Aug. 26, 2011 Excerpts: The Obama administration inched closer Friday to approving a controversial, 1,700-mile oil pipeline that would carry crude oil from Canada to Texas. The State Department released its final environmental impact statement on the proposed project, determining that it would have only minimal adverse effects during its construction and operation. Republicans in Congress and oil and gas industry officials have been urging the administration to give thumbs up - and soon. They say the project, proposed by TransCanada and dubbed Keystone XL, could create 100,000 jobs and carry 1.4 million barrels of oil from Alberta to Houston and Port Arthur, Texas. Opponents, including those who have demonstrated outside the White House all week, contend the project could pollute streams and rivers en route and endanger wildlife. More than 300 people have been arrested during the protests. The administration didn't say that the environmental statement means approval is likely. It will conduct public meetings in late September in the affected states: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. "The nation's quintessential shovel-ready project is a step closer to reality," said American Petroleum Institute refining manager Cindy Schild. "That's good news for tens of thousands of Americans who stand to find new jobs when this pipeline project is finally approved. If the State Department gives the final OK, hiring could begin immediately in hundreds of American companies in the Midwest and across the country." Rep. Fred Upton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the administration should act soon to head off competition for the oil from China and elsewhere. "This affirmation of the pipeline's safety puts us one step closer to construction, but the American people are still waiting on the president for action," he said. This is a win-win for the American economy. But unless we take immediate action, we risk losing this valuable oil supply to energy-hungry countries like China. " read full article: http://content.usatoday.com/communi...stration-inches-closer-to-pipeline-approval/1 .. First, there is a direct conflict in the story of the amount of jobs that will result from building the pipeline. TransCanada says it could create 100,000 jobs while the American Petroleum Institute manager, Cindy Schild, says it will create tens of thousands of new jobs what happened to the other 90,000 jobs? Second, the danger of broken oil lines, oil spills, and destruction to our rivers and streams, our farmlands and wildlife throughout the country has already become a common occurrence because of laxity in regulation in our House Energy and Commerce Department and the State Department. Third, we already live in a polluted nation and instead of opting for more pollution, we should be creating jobs repairing highways, building solar plants, wind farms, and researching other means of renewable energy for our nations growth and prosperity, not retreating to our old dirty pollution making oil. Fourth, instead of using our precious public lands to transport Canadian oil thru out our country for refinement in Texas, why wouldnt we build another refinement center in northern most America, and build a short pipeline to that area for limited refinement and American use not exporting it, for the ultimate financial benefit of Canada. What does America ultimately gain from the raping of our land to foreign interests? Following past negotiations, we would be destroying Americas public lands in return for a few paid off legislators in Congress, a few bribes in our government departments, and for the financial benefit of a foreign country. Any further discussion should have the inclusion of payment to American citizens for the loss of their public lands, environment, and wildlife to construction or leasing without adequate payment to the citizens alone. If America is for sale, without regard to its citizens, who provide the financial energy that drives this nation, then let the citizens know so we can finally get a piece of the action.
