Do you want to take action on the pipeline?
One thing you can do is write letters, send messages on Facebook or tweet our elected officials telling each of them to protect our land, water and homes from the dangerous TransCanada pipeline.
If you need more info on the pipeline, check out our Resource page. Or you can check out this quick push back on TransCanada’s ads that have good facts for your letter.
Once you write your letters, you can also download an Action Guide and share it with your friends. The guide has lots of other ideas for action!
Why write letters?
What to include in your letter?
Sample letters
Elected officials’ contact information
Why write letters?
Elected officials can not read our minds or be in the room with us as we talk with our family and friends about the concerns we have about the pipeline. A great way we can let them know there are many concerned citizens is through letters and online communication. We would like to see the Governor release the Emergency Response plan for the current pipeline and have him direct our state agencies (e.g. Game and Parks, NPPD, Department of Environmental Quality,etc.) to submit comments to the State Department since Secretary Clinton has extended the comment period for state and federal agencies. Other ideas of things Heineman can do are requiring TransCanada to set aside a trust for any spills or other problems so our state and taxpayers do not have to pay for the clean-up costs and requiring TransCanada to pay for road construction/repairs for damage done by their machines.
You can THANK Sen. Dubas for introducing a bill in our state legislature that will put in place stronger pipeline permitting process and protect landowners from pre-mature eminent domain threats.
Other key elected officials are Gov. Heineman, Sec. Clinton and President Obama, their contact information is below.
What do I include in my letter?
There is no magic formula for writing a letter that will get the attention of an elected official. The most important thing to remember is to use facts and your heart in the letter. You can write a letter thanking elected officials that are working to protect our land and water. You can also write a letter asking other elected officials to do more to protect our resources.
Basic things to include in your letter:
- First describe who you are and why you are writing.
- Then describe why the pipeline matters to you.
- Ask a question that they have to respond to so you get a letter back.
- Include your contact information.
Need a sample letter?
Sample “Do More” letter:
Dear Governor Heineman,
I live in Omaha, miles away from the Sandhills but I love the history of the land. I am writing to you because I want you to take more action protecting our land and water from the risky TransCanada pipeline. I may not own land where the proposed pipeline would run, but I am a citizen of our state, and damage to the Sandhills is damages us all. We have such a unique and fragile ecosystem out in the Sandhills that provides roots for us as Nebraskans but also provides economic activity for families that drives our state’s economy.
I understand TransCanada says their pipeline is the safest in the world, but I don’t trust words. I want to see more studies done, and I want input on the Emergency Response Plans. Currently, when a spill happens we are simply not protected and not prepared.
Can you please write back letting me know if you will encourage the state senators to pass bills to protect our land and water?
Thank you,
Name
Address
Phone
Email
Sample “Thank You” letter:
Dear Senator Dubas,
I do not live in your district but have been watching the pipeline issue for months. I am so grateful that you introduced a bill to provide some basic permitting of oil pipelines. I was shocked to find out that we have no state-based agency that governs pipelines. Your bill is a great first step in protecting our land and water. I hope other senators follow your lead by also introducing bills to protect landowners from eminent domain since so many are being pushed to sign contracts for their land when the pipeline has not even been approved yet.
Can you please write back letting me know if you will encourage other state senators to join your bill but to also pass a bill providing stronger eminent domain laws?
Thank you,
Name
Address
Phone
Email
Need elected officials contact info?
We included everyone’s social media links as well and we encourage you to tweet and write messages on their Facebook walls. You can write a letter thanking elected officials that are working to protect our land and water. You can also write a letter asking other elected officials to do more to protect our resources.
Write “Thank You” letters to these elected officials since they are all taking extra steps to protect our resources from the pipeline.
State Senator Dubas (thank her for introducing a bill to protect our resources)
P.O. Box 94604, Room 1018, Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: 402-471-2630
Email: adubas@leg.ne.gov
Twitter: @proud_farm_gal
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AnnetteDubas
State Senator Fulton (thank him for testifying at hearing, considering a bill on eminent domain)
P.O. Box 94604, Room 2107, Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: 402-471-2734
Email: tfulton@leg.ne.gov
Twitter: @tonyfulton
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tonyfulton
State Senator Haar (thank him for considering a bills on pipeline, for speaking out)
P.O. Box 94604, Room 1017, Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: 402-471-2673
Email: khaar@leg.ne.gov
Twitter: none
Facebook: none
Senator Nelson (thank him for urging Clinton to make decisions on science, not politics)
440 N 8th St., Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-441-4600
Email: Fill out the contact form at http://bennelson.senate.gov
Twitter: @senbennelson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/senatorbennelson
Senator Johanns (thank him for urging Clinton for more studies on the Sandhills and Aquifer)
100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-476-1400
Email: http://johanns.senate.gov
Twitter: @Mike_Johanns
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeJohanns
Write “Do More” letters to these elected officials since they need to take more steps to protect our resources from the pipeline.
Governor Heineman (urge him to put stronger state laws in place to protect our resources)
P.O. Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: 402-471-2244
Email: Fill out the form at http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/mail/govmail.html
Twitter: @Gov_Heineman
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/negovernor
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton (urge her NOT to grant the permit to TransCanada)
U.S. Department of State, 2201 C. Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20520
Email: Fill out the contact form at http://tinyurl.com/emailclinton
Twitter: @statedept
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usdos
President Obama (urge him to keep his election promise to make America energy independent)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500
Phone: 202-456-1111
Email: Fill out the contact form at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Twitter: @whitehouse
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whitehouse
Ready to do more, check out more actions here!
