TransCanada Pipeline

Recent News

TransCanada's recent route is no better than the other previous 3 routes they have proposed: http://boldnebraska.org/newroute_stillrisky

Heineman agrees with Obama: the webpage highlightes Governor Heineman's flip-flop with his new support of the pipeline even though it still crosses the Aquifer, HeinemanAgreesWithObama.com

Tips for landowners: we have an entire page with legal info for landowners in the route, here is a poster you can download and post around town to help spread the word about landowner rights.

Action ideas and events: come to events and take action on the pipeline.

More Info: check out our archived pipeline resource page with links to bills in the Unicam, reports and more.

Overview

The TransCanada export pipeline, called Keystone XL, is a risky and bad idea for our state, our land, our water and our economic activity. We do not want to see it built. We want to see investments in American-made energy, including domestic oil and sustainable biofuels, wind, solar and efficiency programs, which bring long-term jobs to rural and urban Nebraska.

Thanks to the hard work of citizens, a special session was called to address the lack of oil pipeline regulations in Nebraska. Now, oil pipeline routes must be reviewed and approved by the Public Service Commission.

In January, President Obama denied the Keystone XL permit after Republicans put an arbitrary 60 day deadline on reviewing alternative routes around the Sandhills. President Obama made the right call, but Congressional Republicans are already at work trying to revive this zombie pipeline. We're continuing our work to stop this risky export pipeline.

Bold Action

Write Heineman: Governor Heineman previously opposed the Keystone XL pipeline, arguing that its risk to the Ogallala Aquifer was too great for Nebraska. Now that the permit's been denied, Governor Heineman's suddenly pro-KXL all the way. We need to ask him why he changed his position on the pipeline. You can write to the Governor at the address below or call (402) 471-2244.

Office of the Governor 
P.O. Box 94848 
Lincoln, NE 68509-4848

Also scroll below for more action ideas.

Pics

See pictures of international tarsands and get broll of tarsands mining process here: http://dirtyoilsands.org/visuals

View pics of various Bold Nebraska events including the "I Stand with Randy" events by visiting our Flickr page.

If you would like to use any of our Nebraska pictures below, please email news@boldnebraska.org for proper credentials.

Video

Landowners and concerned citizens are at the heart of why we are fighting the TransCanada pipeline. The video features landowners Teri and Randy as well as Cindy who is a citizen living in the Sandhills.

More videos can be found on: http://www.youtube.com/boldnebraska

FAQ

What is the state government responsible for when it comes to this oil pipeline?
At the moment, absolutely nothing. President Obama denied the Keystone XL permit request in January 2012. Until TransCanada sends in a new application, we believe Nebraska is under no obligation to study pipeline routes or do anything else to help TransCanada.

If you are a landowner and TransCanada has approached you recently, please contact us at info@boldnebraska.org

Nebraska can also do more to regulate oil pipelines like tightening up our eminent domain laws and passing liability laws.

Why doesn't TransCanada just refine and ship this oil from their country?
TransCanada has plans for tarsands pipelines to criss-cross the United States to get access to all of our ports so they can sell oil to other countries. China is often cited as the country that wants the oil.

Canada also has regulations in place around greenhouse gas emissions and tribal land that prohibit TransCanada from refining and shipping tarsands from their ports.

Won't our gas prices go down with this pipeline?
TransCanada admitted that a $3 per barrel increase is expected for the price of Canadian crude sold in the U.S. if the Keystone XL pipeline (KXL) is built. This is based on the attached supply and markets assessment that TransCanada submitted to Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) as part of the company's application for a Canadian permit for the pipeline.

Can a spill contaminate our drinking water?
Yes, the TransCanada pipeline threatens our clean drinking water. Dr. Stansbury, a professor at the University of Nebraska, conducted an independent review of the pipeline and the risks to our water.

He found TransCanada underestimated the amount of spills on the Keystone XL and predicted as many as 91 leaks. In a worst case scenario, toxic chemical plumes could pollute drinking water in Lincoln, Omaha and Kansas City.

What if the state fails to pass laws regulating oil pipelines, can counties do anything?
Yes, local governments CAN regulate many things when it comes to oil pipelines like how TransCanada can use local roads with their heavy equipment. York has talked about passing local regulations.

Don't we already have a TransCanada pipeline in Nebraska?
President Bush approved TransCanada's first pipeline, Keystone I, in 2007. The pipe runs through the eastern part of our state, does not cross the Sandhills and touches a small part of the Ogallala Aquifer. Governor Heineman, knowing the risks of this pipeline, still did nothing to get proper state-based regulations in place.

Hasn't TransCanada's first pipeline already leaked a bunch of times?
TransCanada's first pipeline leaked 14 times in 12 months. The worst spill was over 21,000 gallons of tar sands oil and toxic chemicals that happened in North Dakota. TransCanada's leak detection system did not work because when a landowner called to report the spill the operator thought he was joking.

Here is a great map showing all of the leaks and spills.

Why is the US State Department involved and where is the process at now?
On January 18th this year, President Obama and the State Department denied TransCanada's permit request to build Keystone XL. Congressional Republicans tied an arbitrary 60 day deadline to review alternative routes that the executive branch couldn't legally meet.

Right now, Congressional Republicans are hard at work trying to resurrect the dead pipeline. We're asking Nebraskans to keep the pressure on to protect our land and water.

I heard TransCanada does not use USA made steel, is that true?
Reports and pictures of the pipe TransCanada used on the first line document they bought the steel from Welspun, a company in India that hasdocumented problems with their product yet they still brag on their company website that TransCanada is a client.

TransCanada said in an article that they agreed to 57 special conditions to make this line safer, what about that claim?
The 57 "special conditions" are window dressing at best. Things like instead of burying the pipe 3 feet, they have agreed to go 4 feet now. Anthony Swift does a great job laying out the conditions and debunking how "special" they really are and proving this pipeline is still very risky.

This pipeline is supposed to bring jobs. Don't you care about putting people to work?
Absolutely we care about making sure every American has a quality job that he/she can be proud of. But this pipeline will only create 50 permanent jobs. Construction itself will only create 2,500-4,600 jobs, and no more than 250 of the jobs in Nebraska will go to Nebraskans.

We believe we should put folks back to work by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and expanding clean and renewable forms of energy.

What is NPPD's involvement in the pipeline?
NPPD will provide power for the pipeline. This means building pumping stations and transmission lines. Nebraska ratepayers will be putting up some of the money for TransCanada's needs. We think this is fundamentally wrong. TransCanada should pay for all the costs up front so their is NO risk to Nebraska ratepayers. You can read more about NPPD and TransCanada on NPPD's website. 

What Nebraska groups are involved?
Groups raising concerns and working to stop the pipeline in our state include the local chapter of 350.org, Audubon Nebraska, Bold Nebraska, Guardians of the Goodlife, Nebraska Bioneers, Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska Green Party, Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light, Nebraska League of Conservation Voters, Nebraska League of Women Voters, Nebraskans for Peace, Nebraska Sierra Club, Nebraska Wildlife Federation and Western Nebraska Resources Council.

For Press

We gathered a packet of background information that has useful links to reports and the basics of federal vs state role on pipeline regulations.

We have landowners, group leaders and energy experts who can talk to reporters. Email ben@boldnebraska.org to set up an interview. For a statement from Bold Nebraska, please email jane@boldnebraska.org or call 402-705-3622.

More Info

To view and download various reports on the pipeline, click here.

To see our archived page on the pipeline that gives a good timeline of events and more links to other resources, click here.

Landowner Rights: folks do not have to allow TransCanada on their land, the terms in the contracts are misleading at best

Pipeline Overview: basic info on TransCanada and tarsands

Tarsands (Dilbit) 101: tarsands is more toxic, uses more energy to produce and is more difficult to cleanup than traditional crude oil

Keystone XL Primer: overview of pipeline and tarsands mining

Studies and Reports: safety risks, worst-case scenario spill report, pipeline built for export market and more

Fact Sheets: one pagers you can print and email to your friends

Letters: state senators ask for more studies and letters from elected officials

Videos: watch Nebraskans stand up to TransCanada and watch a 3-minute video on tarsands

Pictures: folks from across Nebraska stand up and fight for our state

Action Ideas

1) Put Up a Yard Sign: pick up a yard sign and show your solidarity with fellow Nebraskans who want to stop the pipeline

2) Spread the Word to Landowners: post this document at the local coffee shop or email the "landowners rights" page and the NEAT website to folks you know along the proposed pipeline route

3) Help Fund the Citizen Lawsuit and Ads Featuring Landowners and Citizens: a legal challenge to LB 1161 and putting up more ads and bulletin boards will help us keep Nebraskans informed and fired up to stop the pipeline, donate today

4) Submit Comments to the DEQ Process: while we hope the DEQ process becomes null and void because of the legal challenge, it is still very critical you weigh in on the process by submitting a comment, demand to see the full list of chemicals in TransCanada's proposed pipeline

5) Write Letters to Elected Officials: we give some examples of letters, tips and all the contact info you need, write at least 3 letters to check this off your list

6) Get 10 Friends to Sign this Petition: thousands of Nebraskans have weighed in on the pipeline and its critical to continue showing elected officials we continue to have major concerns regarding this tarsands pipeline

7) Attend Events: Check our Event Page for current events.

8) Write a Letter to the Editor: letters to your local paper are very powerful tools since many elected officials read the LTEs as well as fellow citizens, we give a few examples and some tips

9) Submit Comments to the PSC Process: even though the PSC is not yet overseeing the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline route process for our state, if the lawsuit is successful, they will be in charge so giving comments now on their process is critical

10) Watch Pipe Dreams and Raise Money for Bold: hold a BBQ with your friends and watch the documentary Pipe Dreams, ask folks to donate to help keep the pressure on to stop the pipeline, you can buy the video online (or you could host a table at the local farmers market, showing Pipe Dreams on your laptop and have a "tarsands free bake sale")