LETTER: Don’t rush into oil pipeline project

Talk about it

To the Editor:

Recently an article in The Daily Republic stated that the State Department report favors the U.S.-Canada pipeline. This is a $7 billion project that would run 1,700 miles from Texas to Canada carrying crude oil through at least five states. Kristi Noem is in favor of this project.

TransCanada isn’t required to inform the government of its pipeline safety measure until shortly before the pipeline becomes operational. There have been 12 oil spills in the last 12 months.

I understand that many people were presented with easement offers accompanied by a threat of eminent domain proceedings.

Keystone XL claims we will have lower gas prices with this pipeline. How can this be when it is more expensive to mine and refine tar sands oil, which means oil prices will have to remain high in order for the company to make a profit?

Some opponents urged President Obama to block this proposal because of possible environmental problems. Activists have been arrested outside the White House.

Even though the State Department favors this bill, it may not pass the Senate. The Senate will hold more hearings in the near future.

TransCanada claims the projects would create tens of thousands of jobs. Really? Where do they get these numbers? I don’t think we should rush into this project as there are too many unanswered questions. Just because they issued a 1,000-page report doesn’t guarantee its safety.

Tags: keystone oil pipeline, tar sands, opinion, letters, oil, energy, transcanada