In addition to the 13,004 public comments we submitted on behalf of Nebraskans and the over 1 million comments nationwide submitted, state-based groups came together to submit a detailed response to the State Department on why we oppose the Keystone XL pipeline--the route, the map of the Sandhills, emergency response plans, landowner rights, spill liability, concerns about our water and economic risks to rural farmers and ranchers are all detailed in our submission to the State Department including how the DEQ changed the region of the Sandhills on their own website to cover-up the real Sandhills and give TransCanada political cover for a risky route.

View the full PDF of our submission to the State Department.

We did it! Over 1 million comments were submitted to the State Department.

Developing Story: The tarsands spill on Saturday in Arkansas forced families to evacutae their homes. At first Exxon denied it was tarsands, tried to say its no worse than other oil. Enbridge tried this same lie in Michigan and we all know how that turned out ($1 billion later and still not cleaned up 2 years later).

This Exxon pipeline that burst and kept spewing tarsands and benzene for 45 minutes in Arkansas is a snapshot of what could happen in Fullerton or any of the small towns along the proposed TransCanada route. Here are two articles, we will post more as press and citizens report on this risk and no reward...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/arkansas-oil-spill-2013-exxon_n_2986754.html

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/30/arkansas-residents-evacuate-as-exxon-mobil-tar-sands-pipeline-ruptures/

More than the Easter bunny is hopping our way! Updates on landowner rights, State Dept. hearing, the citizen lawsuit and timing of the decision by Pres. Obama are in this blog post. We still need you write letters to President Obama. It is the old-school, handwritten letters that get the attention of our elected leaders. The President told Republicans he knows this pipeline creates 35 long-term jobs and is an export pipeline. Which if course then asks the question, how again is this in our national interest? Why are we risking water and property rights? Keep up the pressure pipeline fighters!

Donate to help support the activities for the hearing!

We describe the State Department process and our reaction, click here.

The area of the Sandhills the State Department is using in their most recent study comes from a shrunken map formally submitted by the Nebraska DEQ through the MOU they have with the State Department. You see, its Nebraska's role to define the route, and they did...all to benefit TransCanada (who paid $5 million for the DEQ report and used a contractor HDR they are working with on other projects as well, yes this is a conflict).

The State Department released the next step in the review process today, a report called the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). They are giving citizens 45 days to review and comment. The State Department will then issue a Final EIS. The State Department also must conduct what is called a National Interest Determination report and give other federal agencies 90 days to review that report. So, we are looking at a possible final decision in June or July, possibly later if hearings and proper review times is given to citizens.

Bold Nebraska will update this page as our team, citizens and landowners can review the SEIS. Our initial reactions are below.

Update, 2/27/13: LIUNA was unsuccessful in getting the AFL-CIO council to endorse Keystone XL. They tried for months (some would say years) to get all unions that are part of the AFL-CIO to support the Keystone XL. Instead, the AFL-CIO council sided with words and policies that Pres. Obama supports, made in the USA energy including domestic pipelines. TransCanada is foreign tarsands, going through foreign steel and refined by foreign interests. The AFL-CIO did NOT endorse Keystone XL.

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We stopped the pipeline in 2011 because citizens organized, held events and showed up making their voices loud and clear we did not want this pipeline risking our land, water and property rights. Bold and partner groups are continuing our efforts to ensure our voices stop the pipeline again. Our best guess on timing for the President to make a decision is June/July 2013 with draft environmental review from the State Department in March (there is a comment period before the President makes a decision). More info on Bold Nebraska and partner group plans for the State Dept. Hearing, click here

Donate to help support Bold Nebraska's work to stop the pipeline.