NRDC.org stories are available for online republication by news media outlets or nonprofits under these conditions: The writer(s) must be credited with a byline; you must note prominently that the story was originally published by NRDC.org and link to the original; the story cannot be edited (beyond simple things such as time and place elements, style, and grammar); you cant resell the story in any form or grant republishing rights to other outlets; you cant republish our material wholesale or automaticallyyou need to select stories individually; you can't republish the photos or graphics on our site without specific permission; you should drop us a note to let us know when youve used one of our stories. The projects corporate backerthe Canadian energy infrastructure company TC Energyofficially abandoned the project in June 2021 following President Joe Bidens denial of a key permit on his first day in office. The study found that the pipeline would have limited adverse environmental impacts, but was authored by a firm that had "previously worked on projects with TransCanada and describes the pipeline company as a 'major client' in its marketing materials". It appears that the government review process for Keystone XL has been completely fair. [28], Additional phases (III, completed in 2014, and IV, rejected in 2015) have been in construction or discussion since 2011. [174] By May 2012, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had spent $9 million and $16.5 million by May 2013 to promote Keystone XL. In the instance of the Keystone XL pipeline, there have been many protests and actions taken against the construction of the pipeline. When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. The oil leak is the largest seen from the Keystone pipeline in the state. Shifts to gasoline fuel for cargo vehicles, new technologies promoting fuel efficiency, and export restrictions that forced the price of oil to decrease also played a part. The Tribes are asking the court to rescind the illegal issuance of the Keystone XL pipeline presidential permit.[199], Environmental concerns include the potential for air pollution, and for leaks and spills, that could pollute critical water supplies and cause harm to migratory birds and other wildlife. "[211] In response to the Department of State's report, which recommended neither acceptance nor rejection, an editor of The New York Times recommended that Obama should reject the project, which "even by the State Department's most cautious calculationscan only add to the [climate change] problem". [222] Stansbury concludes that safety assessments provided by TransCanada are misleading: "We can expect no fewer than 2 major spills per state during the 50-year projected lifetime of the pipeline. [277] In late 2014 Enbridge announced it is awaiting final approval from the US State Department and expects to proceed with the last phase in mid-2015. The United States is the number one buyer of crude oil exported from Venezuela. De Souza, Mike. A spill would have been devastating to the farms, ranches, and communities that depend on these crucial ecosystems. The leak lasted for several minutes, with no initial reports of damage to water sources or wildlife. By the time President Biden took office in 2021, ready to fulfill his campaign promise to revoke the cross-border permit, the dirty energy pipeline had become one of the foremost climate controversies of our time. As per the analysis report conducted by Cornell Universitys Global Labor Institute, these job claims are nothing but mere fabrications. "All U.S. Throughout the process, the US government and officials from the department of energy are seen favoring the project and a special group of people. [108][109][110], In 2015, President Barack Obama blocked the project, causing TC Energy to instigate a US $15 billion lawsuit under NAFTA. [69], In mid-2016, a lateral pipeline to refineries at Houston, Texas and a terminal was completed, and was online in 2017. Five years ago, a pipeline spilled a million gallons of tar sands crude into a Michigan riverand were still cleaning it up. Indeed, one study found that between 2007 and 2010, pipelines moving tar sands oil in Midwestern states spilled three times more per mile than the U.S. national average for pipelines carrying conventional crude. [51][76][needs update], In November 2018, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris (District of Montana) enjoined construction of the pipeline and vacated the new permit because the policy reversal violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Endangered Species Act. This project will certainly increase the possibility of spills through the periodic need for maintenance in the future. When Nebraska landowners who had refused TransCanada the permission it needed for pipeline easements on their properties, TransCanada attempted to exercise eminent domain over such use. its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. It became a symbol too often used as a campaign cudgel by both parties rather than a serious policy matter. [23][24], According to a February 10, 2011 Reuters article, Koch Industries were in a position to increase their profits substantially if the Keystone XL Pipeline were approved. What some pipeline advocates think is the "Keystone Pipeline" is a 1,700-mile "shortcut" called Keystone XL, or KXL. The overall results of polls on the Keystone XL pipeline taken by independent national polling organizations from 2012 to 2014 were as follows: In contrast, Pew's February 2017 poll showed that support for the pipeline had fallen to only 42%, with 48% of polled respondents opposing the pipeline, a 17 percentage point drop in support since 2014, with the majority of the shift due to a sharp decline in support among Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents. The House Energy and Commerce Committee's chairman at the time, Representative Henry Waxman, had also urged the State Department to block Keystone XL for greenhouse gas emission reasons. This dirty, dangerous oil, which is almost impossible to clean and affects the health of people, is bad news for our countryand the planet. In Alberta, support was at 77%, and in Quebec at 36%. [111], On January 18, 2018, TransCanada announced they had secured commitments to ship 500,000 barrels (79,000m3) per day for 20 years. Fact: While American Petroleum Institute has stated that this project will create jobs for over half a million American people, the truth is these are all false claims. Without Keystone XL, the tar sands industry has been forced to cancel projects rather than shift to rail, subsequently leaving more of the earths dirtiest fuel in the ground where it belongs. The Keystone XL proposal faced criticism from environmentalists and a minority of the members of the United States Congress. By Brijesh Patel, Rod Nickel and Nia Williams. In addition, due to its vulnerability to spill accidents, there have been many keystone pipeline facts and myths speculating this pipeline project. Initially, President Obama put this project on hold, but Donald Trump turned it and gave it a green flag. TC Energy is applying for permits to tap the Cheyenne River, White River (South Dakota), and Bad River (South Dakota) for use during construction primarily for drilling to install pipe, to build pump stations and to control dust. [155] The large trade relationship between the US and Venezuela has persisted despite political tensions between the two countries. [60] The Senate had passed it 6236 on January 29,[61] and the House approved it 270152 on February 11. Meanwhile, major new tar sands projects stopped moving forward, despite investments from the government of Alberta, Canada. Furthermore, the project cannot create such a high number of jobs for Native Americans. They accuse TransCanada of misleading them when they signed shipping contracts in the summer of 2007. Fact: In various independent studies based on the future economics of the KXL project, it has been found that these claims of generating millions of dollars by TransCanada are a plot to get support for this project. NRDC advocates were part of a broad coalition that helped stop Keystone XLfor good. Apart from this, I have knowledge of local listing. On January 9, 2015, the Nebraska Supreme Court cleared the way for construction, after Republican Governor Dave Heineman had approved of it in 2013. Erwin Seba/Reuters, FILE "We recognize that incidents . An astonishing number of people in America are unaware of different keystone pipeline facts and myths. When that failedthanks to a lawsuit brought by NRDC and other groupsTrump reissued the cross-border permit himself. Dec. 11, 2022, 8:21 PM PST. As the debates go on about this Keystone XL project being the biggest threat to the US, here are some common myths and facts you need to know about this project. Nevertheless, in the mid-2000s, with gas prices on the rise, oil companies ramped up production and sought additional ways to move their product from Canadas remote tar sands fields to midwestern and Gulf Coast refineries. [197] Protesters called on President Obama to reject the planned pipeline extension when deciding the fate of the pipeline after Secretary of State John Kerry completes a review of the project.[198]. The founder of Bold Nebraska has led the Cornhusker States years-long rallying cry against TransCanadas tar sands pipeline. (Reuters) -Canada's TC Energy shut its Keystone pipeline in the United States after more than 14,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into a creek in . Additionally, it should be noted here that Canadian oil sands have been labeled as the dirtiest form of crude oil because of their high carbon content and linked to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. [49] A 9,700 barrels (1,540m3) leak occurred in Marshall County, South Dakota in November 2017. Over the years, they have invested more money in promoting this project than any other state or environmental organization. We are a sovereign nation, and we are not being treated as such. However, the reports conducted by the authorities were a complete sham, and there was nothing reasonable in them. However, the reports conducted by the authorities were a complete sham, and there was nothing reasonable in them. Farmers, ranchers, tribes, and conservation groups helped keep the project stalled for Trumps full four years in office, despite his best efforts to expedite its approval. On January 24, 2017, President Donald Trump took action intended to permit the pipeline's completion. "[176], A USA Today editorial pointed out that the 2013 Lac-Mgantic derailment in Quebec, in which crude oil carried by rail cars exploded and killed 47 people,[178] highlights the safety of pipelines compared to truck or rail transport. "[154] However, an independent study conducted by the Cornell ILR Global Labor Institute refers to some studies (e.g. [248][249], In December 2010, the No Tar Sands Oil campaign, sponsored by action groups including Corporate Ethics International, NRDC, Sierra Club, 350.org, National Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and Rainforest Action Network, was launched. However, once the oil starts reaching the international market, it will ultimately cause a price hike in fuel rates in America. [163][164] The U.S. State Department's Preliminary Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, issued in March 2013, estimated 3,900 direct jobs and 42,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction. [212][notes 2] On March 21, Mother Jones revealed that key personnel employed by Environment Resources Management (ERM), the consulting firm responsible for generating most of the SEIS, had previously performed contract work for TransCanada corporation. In June 2021, TC Energy announced that it was abandoning its plans for building the pipeline for goodputting an end to a fossil fuel project that had loomed over waterways, communities, and the climate for more than a decade. There is thorough research or proper facts to back the claims made by the company. The Keystone pipeline is seen as a way to replace imports of heavy oil-sand crude from Venezuela with more reliable Canadian heavy oil. From here, it will be sent to different overseas markets. [83], In August 2019, the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the Nebraska Public Service Commission's approval of TransCanada's pipeline application. [clarification needed][115][116][117], The pipeline was a prominent issue in the 2014 United States mid-term elections, and after Republicans gained control of the Senate that year, the project was revived. [125], On September 19, 2011, a number of Indigenous tribal leaders in the United States and Canada were arrested for protesting the Keystone XL outside the White House. Initially, President Obama put this project on hold, but Donald Trump turned it and gave it a green flag. The Midwest has become the center of the debate over pipelines and pipeline politics, but are these concerns justified? Jobs Gained, Jobs Lost by the Construction of Keystone XL", "Keystone modifications call Obama's bluff", "TransCanada to Work with Department of State on New Keystone XL Route Options", "Media Advisory State of Nebraska to Play Major Role in Defining New Keystone XL Route Away From the Sandhills", "Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), "Obama Facing Rising Pressure on Keystone Oil Pipeline", "Congress clears Keystone XL pipeline bill, setting up veto", "Department of State: Record of Decision and National Interest Determination", "Obama rejects TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline", "Obama administration rejects Keystone pipeline", "Half of Canadians in favour of Keystone XL revival while U.S. support declines: Poll", Recent Case: Montana District Court Holds State Departments National Interest Determination for Keystone XL Pipeline Violated APA by Disregarding Prior Factual Findings, "Memorandum on Construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline", "Keystone XL: Trump issues permit to begin construction of pipeline", "Presidential Permit: Authorizing TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P., To Construct, Connect, Operate, and Maintain Pipeline Facilities at the International Boundary Between the United States and Canada", "Nebraska approves path for controversial Keystone XL pipeline", "TransCanada Asks Nebraska to Reconsider Keystone XL Ruling", "South Dakota Regulator Raises Prospect of Revoking Keystone Permit", "A judge just dealt a potentially fatal blow to Keystone XL", "Judge keeps most Keystone XL pipeline work on hold", "TransCanada Corp to overhaul its business in US$13B acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group", "Pipeline company TransCanada changes name to TC Energy", "TransCanada Can Change Its Name, Say Opponents, But Keystone XL Will Never See 'The Light of Day', "Court lifts injunction blocking Keystone XL oil pipeline", "Keystone XL Pipeline Plan Is Approved by Nebraska Supreme Court", "State Department Solicits Comments On Keystone XL Pipeline", "Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline; Public Meeting Announcement", "Canadian Energy Centre: Minister Savage Statement", "Alberta's energy war room now called Canadian Energy Centre", "Bill Status Report for the 30th Legislature 1st Session (2019)", "Alberta makes it official: Bill passed and proclaimed to kill carbon tax", "Keystone XL to proceed with $7B provincial commitment", "Investing US$8.0 billion in the North American economy", "Supreme Court Won't Block Ruling to Halt Work on Keystone XL Pipeline", Northern Plains Res. The Keystone pipeline spill in a creek running through rural pastureland in Washington County, Kansas, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Kansas City, also was the biggest in the system . [203], On November 30, 2011, a group of Republican senators introduced legislation aimed at forcing the Obama administration to make a decision within 60days. DAPL may be underway, but the water protectors at Standing Rock taught us a lot about going up against the fossil fuel industry. [208] The deadline for the decision had "prevented a full assessment of the pipeline's impact". [notes 1][25] Phase III was opened on January 22, 2014, completing the pipeline path from Hardisty, Alberta to Nederland, Texas. [201] Critics say that a major leak could ruin drinking water and devastate the mid-western U.S. [173], In 2013, frustrated by delays in getting approval for Keystone XL (via the Gulf of Mexico), the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines (via Kitimat, BC) and the expansion of the existing TransMountain line to Vancouver, Alberta has intensified exploration of two northern projects "to help the province get its oil to tidewater, making it available for export to overseas markets". Good Luck Persuading These Nebraskans, The Dirty Fight Over Canadian Tar Sands Oil, 10 Threats from the Canadian Tar Sands Industry, The Dakota Access Pipeline Fight Fuels Battles Across the Country, Still No Approved Route for KXL in Nebraska, Meet Jane Kleeb: One of Nebraskas First and Fiercest KXL Opponents, Why We Must Stop the Flow of Tar Sands Oil, Win! [109], Since 2010, there were concerns that a pipeline spill could threaten the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the world's largest fresh water reserves. [26][42][43], In June 2010, Keystone Pipeline (Phase I) was completed and was delivering oil from Hardisty, Alberta, over 3,456 kilometres (2,147mi) to the junction at Steele City, Nebraska, and on to Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Illinois, and Patoka Oil Terminal Hub north of Patoka, Illinois. [250], In September 2011, Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, sharply criticized opponents of oil sands development in a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto, arguing that oil sands account for about 0.1% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, coal power plants powered in the U.S. generate almost 40 times more greenhouse-gas emissions than Canada's oil sands and California bitumen is more GHG-intensive than the oil sands. Looking at the spills incidents that happened in the past few years, the answer is a resounding yes. In 2015, the U.S. State Department, under President Barack Obama, declined to grant the northern leg of the Keystone XL project the permit required to construct, maintain, and operate the pipeline across the U.S.Canada bordera permit that President Trump later granted and President Biden once again revoked. That number made it the seventh-largest onshore oil spill since 2002. [68], On November 16, 2011, Enbridge announced it was buying ConocoPhillips's 50% interest in the Seaway pipeline that flowed from the Gulf of Mexico to the Cushing hub. Heres why thats a disaster in the making. Later, fossil fuel companies funnelled millions into Trumps 2017 inauguration ceremony, days after which he brought the Keystone XL project back from the dead, and ramped up federal lobbying efforts in the first months of his administration. The oil flow was stopped on Wednesday, December 7 just seven minutes after a leak was discovered. Indigenous communities are also concerned with health risks posed by the extension of the Keystone pipeline. It would be too expensive for the companies to ship by rail. We will close our reservation borders to Keystone XL. The company says it's already helping the U.S. meet its energy needs. (That effort failed.) On March 17, 2008, during the final year of the Presidency of George W. Bush, the United States Department of State issued a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, maintenance and operation of facilities at the United States and Canada border. [210] The March 2013 U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) stated that the original proposals, would not cause "significant impacts to most resources along the proposed Project route". 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