The State Department has released its final environmental review of the dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Now it’s time for Secretary of State John Kerry to tell President Obama whether he thinks it is “in our national interest” to approve this dirty and dangerous pipeline. And what he says could be one of the biggest determining factors in President Obama’s decision.
We have now entered a new 30-day public comment period, where you can make your voice heard and tell John Kerry to get the facts right about the environmental dangers of Keystone XL and say NO to this dirty pipeline now.
Not sure what to write? Check out Bold Nebraska’s analysis of the environmental report on KXL, and another outline of the risks the pipeline poses to our water. Additionally, here are some key facts to consider including in your comment to Sec. Kerry and the State Dept:
- Climate action starts at home, and one of the first and clearest actions Sec. Kerry could take would be to recognize that the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline is a climate issue.
- The evidence is clear that Keystone XL could increase production levels of tarsands oil in Alberta, and therefore significantly add to carbon emissions. The massive investment would lock us into dependence on this dirty fuel for decades, exacerbating carbon pollution just when we have to go quickly and decisively in the other direction.
- Beyond the effects on our climate, this dangerous pipeline would also put the water supply of millions of Americans at risk, including the precious Ogallala Aquifer, Platte and Niobrara rivers, and hundreds of individual families’ wells. After a year in which many communities were harmed by spills from existing pipelines, we cannot allow any more of the dirtiest, most toxic oil on earth to spill into our lands and waterways.
- In addition to submitting your comment electronically via the form below, comments may also be mailed directly to:
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Energy Resources, Room 4843
Attn: Keystone XL Public Comments
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520