NE Minn. Oil Blast & Other Stories About Oil's Effects on Earth & Its People

NE Minn. Oil Blast & Other Stories About Oil's Effects on Earth & Its People
(Note: After another explosion in the Gulf of Mexico today, Sharon, our founder, did a little research and found other destructive forces for the economy and earth perpetrated by Big Oil. Dave STSSA)
Company Gets $2.4M Fine For NE Minn. Oil Blast

http://wcco.com/local/pipeline.explosion.fine.2.1865249.html
SUPERIOR, Wis. (AP) ― The federal Department of Transportation has fined Enbridge Energy $2.4 million for a pipeline explosion and fire that killed two workers in northwestern Minnesota in 2007.

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar announced the fine Tuesday. A federal investigation finished in 2008 found Enbridge committed eight probable violations prior to the accident near Clearbrook, Minn., that killed two welders from Superior, Wis.

A spokesman for Houston-based Enbridge Energy Partners says the fine is more than officials expected but there are no current plans to appeal it. The company had previously said the federal findings were consistent with its own internal investigation of what happened and that it has taken steps to prevent similar future problems.

The company determined the blast happened after oil mist escaped from a coupling on the new section of pipeline and was ignited by a heater. The accident also caused $2 million property damage and caused world oil prices to spike.
Click to enlarge
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An explosion and fire at an oil pipeline in Clearbrook, Minn. killed two maintenance workers at Nov. 28, 2007.

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EPA questions plan for Canada-Texas pipeline
Agency calling for a closer look at its impact on minorities, poor
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 15, 2010, 8:05PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7154758.html
A proposed pipeline that would ferry Canadian crude oil to Texas refineries has run afoul of the recharged federal push to protect minorities and the poor from an overburden of pollution.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the pipeline plan doesn't evaluate the potential health impacts on Port Arthur, where one fork of the pipeline will end.
The criticism reflects new priorities at the EPA under administrator Lisa Jackson, who has intensified its quest for environmental justice, a movement rooted in the idea that minorities and the poor bear an unfair share of society's toxic ills. The EPA wants to make sure its actions do not add to that burden.
In her two years on the job, Jackson has visited low-income and minority communities across the country. Her stated goal is to include those who are often at the greatest risk of harm but outside the main environmental movement.
Jackson outlined a plan last month to place special emphasis on economic and racial factors in an area when making permit decisions and drafting and enforcing rules. The idea dates to the Clinton years, but the agency hasn't always been so earnest.
"Historically, the low- income and minority communities that carry the greatest environmental burdens haven't had a voice in our policy development or rule- making," Jackson said in a statement that called her plan "part of my ongoing commitment to give all communities a seat at the decision-making table."
Compiling national data
Part of the four-year plan, which is now open for public comment, is developing a national database to identify small tracts of people as unfairly affected over the years by pollution. The tool would use census data, emissions inventories and other numbers to assign a score to an area, and the score will be included in the permitting process.
The EPA is particularly concerned about Port Arthur, one of 10 places across the country that received grants last year as part of the environmental justice push. About 45 percent of the city's residents are black, and they are neighbors to numerous refineries, chemical plants and a waste incinerator.
The Carver Terrace housing project, for example, is within sight of the Motiva refinery, which is in the midst of an expansion that will make it one of the world's largest once the work is done in 2012. The refinery is one of four possible destinations in Port Arthur for the crude from the pipeline proposed by the Canadian energy company Trans Canada Corp.
Regulators have approved two segments of the 2,000-mile pipeline, known as Keystone XL. The Texas and Oklahoma portion remains under review, as does a stretch from Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Neb.
OK'd by State Department
The U.S. State Department, which issues permits for cross-border pipelines, concluded recently that the project would cause "limited adverse environmental impacts" if TransCanada follows its plans and the law.
In response, the EPA raised several concerns, including the potential impacts to Port Arthur residents, who may be exposed to greater risks from the emissions of the refineries receiving the Canadian oil.
Environmentalists praised the EPA's position as a "game-changer" for the project.
But Tracy Hester, director of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Center at the University of Houston's law school, said it's rare to see a permit changed on environmental justice grounds.
"From a permitting and regulatory perspective, it's been a factor for 20 years, but it hasn't been a driver," Hester noted. "It never seems to translate into action."
The EPA's renewed effort will be meaningful, he said, if it leads to changes in permits and enhanced enforcement and inspections in troubled areas.
Still, Hilton Kelley, a Port Arthur activist, is hopeful that the EPA's intervention will lead to changes because "we're already inundated with air toxics." But he said the proposed pipeline hasn't stirred up a fuss in the city because of the need for jobs.
Starvation vs. pollution?
Built on oil wealth, Port Arthur has fallen on hard times, with one of the highest unemployment rates in Texas at 11 percent. The statewide rate is 8.5 percent, according to recent data.
The Motiva expansion, for one, is expected to generate 6,500 construction jobs and up to 300 permanent jobs.
"The community has bought into the idea because of jobs, but they're not looking at the longer-term issue of emissions," Kelley said. "They say, 'It's easier to die from starvation than pollution.' What do you choose? Until we get other companies interested in our area, then that's the dilemma we're facing."
Business groups also have questioned whether the EPA's justice campaign would stop or restrict economic activity.
With the Keystone XL project, the refiners said the Canadian shipments would offset declining imports from Venezuela and Mexico and thus produce no additional emissions in Port Arthur.
"Our refinery was built more than 100 years ago, so no one in the area woke up to find a refinery there," said Bill Day, a spokesman for San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., which would refine oil from TransCanada in Port Arthur. "People moved there with the knowledge that the refinery is there."
matthew.tresaugue@chron.com

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Climate protest camp targets RBS headquarters

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11020007

Climate change protesters have set up camp close to the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters in Edinburgh.

The Camp for Climate Action is angry about the banking group's role in financing oil industry developments which they believe could be dangerous for the environment.

Dozens of protesters are in an open area close to the building, which is to the west of Edinburgh.

RBS said its offer to meet with the protest leaders had been declined.

Police made two arrests at the site on Wednesday night. Officers are currently surrounding the building, along with security staff.

The environmentalists have criticised the banking group for backing the fossil fuel industry in the UK and around the world.

There has been particular anger about moves to exploit Canadian tar sands for commercial oil production.

The protesters say they do not rule out taking direct action against the RBS headquarters building itself.

The protesters claim about 100 activists "swooped" on the grounds of RBS at Gogarburn at about 2115 BST on Wednesday. They said this happened a day earlier than planned so they could "outfox" the authorities who were keen to prevent the camp from taking place.

The location of the site was announced through a mass text message that campers were subscribing to.

Mass action
They have set up marquees, eco-toilets and kitchens and the organisers said hundreds of activists would be arriving at the camp over the next few days.

A spokesman for RBS said: "In recent years RBS has been one of the most active banks in the world in providing funding for renewable energy projects so we are at the forefront of helping finance the transition.


"Therefore, while we understand the protesters' intent and publicity tactics we clearly cannot agree with their decision to target RBS.

"We have offered to meet with the leaders of the protest, and although they have not accepted, this offer still stands.

"Our top priority is securing the safety of our staff and customers and we urge the protesters to make their point peacefully."

One of the protesters, Ruth McTernan, said: "It's been a dramatic start to what's going to be a week full of workshops, sustainable living and direct action against RBS crimes against the climate.

"We're in a beautiful location here at Gogarburn, surrounded by the woods.

"People should come down, have a cup of tea and check out what's going on for themselves."

Activists have declared a day of mass action against the Royal Bank of Scotland on Monday.

The protesters said Thursday's swoop would still take place but only at the bank's St Andrew's Square base.

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Keystone XL letters cause stir
http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/article_7293a1ce-a80f-11df-9edf-001cc4c002e0.html
A spokesman for TransCanada acknowledged Friday that the company has sent letters to Nebraska landowners along the proposed route of the Keystone XL petroleum pipeline urging them to sign easements in the next 30 days or face land condemnation proceedings.
Jeff Rauh said the letters went out at a time when the pipeline builder is trying to position itself to proceed quickly with the $7 billion construction phase as soon as the federal permitting process is complete.
"It's important to be able to start to get those land rights," Rauh said, "so that we're able to move forward in a timely manner once project approval is given."
U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns raised concerns about TransCanada's tactics last week.
"Landowners tell me that TransCanada has set arbitrary deadlines for acceptance of payment offers," Johanns said in a prepared statement, "and threatened the use of eminent domain without so much as an approved permit to move forward with the project."
He called on TransCanada to "immediately lift any deadlines imposed on Nebraska landowners and to negotiate in good faith."
Prospects for approval actually took a step back last month when the Environmental Protection Agency called for more work on the proposed environmental impact statement and more time for inter-agency comment.
Since then, TransCanada has announced that it would drop its attempts to get a waiver to pump oil through the underground line at higher pressure than allowed by federal standard.
That decision came as individual landowners, the Nebraska Wildlife Federation, the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club and others spoke out about the potential impact of routing the pipe through highly erodible Nebraska Sandhills and over the Ogallala Aquifer, source of drinking water for much of the state.
Now a new concern is emerging farther south in the York area, where landowners are worried about losing the lucrative contracts they hold to grow seed corn for Pioneer Hi-Bred and other companies.
Marvin Weber of York said he's one of those seed-corn growers and also a recipient of one of the letters alluding to eminent domain from TransCanada.
"When I went to the post office to get my certified letter," Weber said, "they said I wasn't the only one that got one."
Weber declined to provide a copy of that letter, saying, "I don't want to be the one to jeopardize anything right now."
His attorney, Katherine Vogel of Lincoln, also declined.
"We are involved in settlement negotiations with Keystone at this time," said Vogel, "so we're not willing to publicly comment on any aspect of it."
Roger Kaiser, owner of seed-corn ground in the York area and now a resident of Wittenberg, Ariz., described the heat created as oil moves through the pipe as the main issue and said that it could affect the growth of the crop.
"We've been growers for 15 years, some of us," Kaiser said, "and we may lose it."
Rauh said TransCanada will compensate landowners for any financial damage, including lost seed-corn contracts. However, "we do not believe that (the pipe) will have any adverse effect on the productivity of the ground based on the reviews that we've done."
Beyond that, "TransCanada's commitment, number one, is to treat landowners with respect," he said, "and, number two, to work with landowners and come to a mutually acceptable agreement on easements whenever we can."
He said fewer than 50 letters went out in recent days in situations where "the process toward voluntary agreement was no longer progressing."
Even after any eminent domain proceedings are initiated in state courts, TransCanada would remain open to negotiation, he said.
Rauh said the number of letters sent should be measured against the 470 landowners along the route in Nebraska.
That does not mean, however, that TransCanada has all those other easements in hand.
The approximately 100 members of Landowners for Fairness have been trying to negotiate as a group on close to 100 miles of the route since November, said Dan Kramer of Atkinson.
"I've got a sense that we're getting close to an agreement on an easement," Kramer said, "but nothing, certainly nothing definite."
Meanwhile, Megan Lybrand of the Pioneer Hi-Bred office in Lincoln said its management has made no decision yet on whether to move its production off pipeline fields.
Lybrand said Pioneer's agronomists "have not experienced pipelines of this sort before" and would "have to see the impact on soil and growing conditions."
Reach Art Hovey at 402-473-7223 or at ahovey@journalstar.com
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Nebraska pipeline opponents applaud EPA stance
http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_e07a0814-9535-11df-b2d4-001cc4c002e0.html
All eyes were on video screens at Nebraska Educational Television in Lincoln on Wednesday night, but thoughts were obviously divided between what was happening there and the news from Kansas City in the morning.
On the same day Nebraska groups hosted an Interactive Pipeline Summit to call attention to concerns about the proposed Keystone XL petroleum pipeline, word was spreading that the federal government's environmental watchdog has concerns as well.
The Environmental Protection Agency is recommending TransCanada, developers of a pipeline headed through Nebraska from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast, provide better answers for a draft environmental impact statement being prepared by the U.S. State Department.
The EPA also wants another round of public comment on a project that is scheduled to go through the Nebraska Sandhills and over the Ogallala Aquifer, source of drinking water for 85 percent of the state's population.
"It looks like the EPA is asking the same questions we've been asking and reading the environmental impact statement the same way we were," said Duane Hovorka of Elmwood, executive director of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation and part of panel put together for the summit.
Ken Winston, lobbyist for the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club, agreed. "I think the fact that the EPA has rated the environmental impact statement as inadequate is consistent with the views of most environmentalists," Winston said prior to appearing before a studio audience of about 40.
TransCanada already has oil flowing in the Keystone pipeline, which passes underground through the Lincoln area west of Seward.
Keystone XL, slightly larger at 36 inches in diameter, is scheduled to come through west of York.
TransCanada wants to start construction in Nebraska on the second pipe next year and to join it with the Keystone along the Nebraska-Kansas border for the trip to refineries at Cushing, Okla.
The two pipes would split again at Cushing and Keystone XL is supposed to go on to the Gulf Coast.
Terry Cunha, a TransCanada spokesman based in Alberta, didn't want to address Sandhills and Ogallala matters specifically when sought out earlier Wednesday.
"I couldn't speculate as to why the public's opinion has changed over the years," Cunha said. "I think you could look at what's happened recently with the spill along the Gulf Coast."
Cunha said TransCanada sees no reason to alter its construction timetable so far, despite the EPA's reservations.
"We are waiting for the Department of State to come to a decision sometime this year," he said.
The State Department is the lead agency on the project because it crosses an international border.
Also involved in the Wednesday summit were Paul Blackburn of Plains Justice in Vermillion, S.D.; Marty Cobenais of the Indigenous Environmental Network in Bemidji, Minn.; Jane Kleeb of Hastings and Bold Nebraska; and Ernie Fellows of Mills and Nebraska Landowners for Fairness.
Cobenais said the closer proximity to the Ogallala goes a long way to explaining why Keystone XL is generating more opposition than Keystone.
"They're going through the aquifer this time," he said. "Water talks."
Hovorka puts more emphasis on George W. Bush stepping down as president and Barack Obama stepping up. "I think the message there is that elections matter," he said.
Reach Art Hovey at 402-473-7223 or ahovey@journalstar.com.
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Protests spew over Montana-Gulf pipeline plan
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-08-11-pipeline11_ST_N.htm
By John S. Adams, USA TODAY
Environmental groups and landowners, upset by last month's oil spill in Michigan, are urging the Obama administration to deny a proposal for an oil pipeline that would go from the Montana-Canada border to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Alberta-based TransCanada's proposed 1,661-mile Keystone XL pipeline would link up with its existing 2,151-mile Keystone pipeline, which began operations in June, and go through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Opponents say last month's spill underscored the dangers of the United States' reliance on fossil fuels. A pipeline ruptured on July 25 and spilled nearly a million gallons of crude oil into a tributary of the Kalamazoo River in southwestern Michigan, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth and the Natural Resources Defense Council opposed the Keystone XL project even before the Michigan spill, but the incident has increased scrutiny and elevated concerns.

Groups opposing the expanded pipeline have popped up onFacebook. Last week, protesters demonstrated outside Chicago's Palmer House Hilton hotel, where President Obama was attending a Democratic fundraiser, and hung a banner over Obama's Lake Shore Drive route that read, "Pres. Obama: Stop the Keystone Pipeline, Stop the Tar Sands."

"This disastrous oil spill in Michigan is yet another wake-up call to the tragic impacts of our oil dependence," says Alex Moore of the environmental group Friends of the Earth.

TransCanada's vice president of Keystone Pipelines, Robert Jones, says the company is committed to safety and will use state-of-the-art leak-detection systems with automatic shut-off valves. Emergency response plans, he says, are already in place if a leak were to occur.

"We could react to that leak automatically," Jones says.

Before TransCanada can begin construction, it must get approval from several federal agencies, including the State Department, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Land Management.

Last month, the State Department added 90 days to the review process.

TransCanada also needs permits from Montana and South Dakota.

Utility officials in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas say their states don't require permits for interstate oil pipelines. The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved the project in March. Tom Ring of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality says a decision could come this fall.

TransCanada hopes to begin construction early next year and complete the project by early 2013, spokesman Terry Cunha says.

Once completed, the combined Keystone system would have the capacity to deliver 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day to U.S. refineries, including 500,000 barrels from the new portion, which is expected to cost $7 billion, Cunha says.

The proposed pipeline would run through part of Agnes Reeves' ranch in eastern Montana. Her son, Tom Reeves, says the pipeline spill in Michigan has exacerbated his family's concerns.

"I would not want such a disaster to occur in Montana," he says.

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US shale gas won't cut need for Alaska gas pipeline
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0211658920100202
* Pipeline would move about 4 bln cubic feet of gas daily

* Alaska has about 35 trillion cubic feet in gas reserves

* Pipeline could cost $40 bln, take 10 years to build

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. market will still need huge natural gas supplies brought from Alaska by an expensive pipeline, even though vast gas resources trapped in shale rock in the Lower 48 States can now be developed, the federal coordinator for the pipeline told Congress on Tuesday.

U.S. natural gas demand is expected to grow over the next decade as utilities run more of their power plants on natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and more consumers choose gas to warm their homes.

"The nation is certainly looking to natural gas to a much larger extent in the future in the decades ahead as a preferable cleaner-burning fuel of choice," said Larry Persily, nominated by President Barack Obama to coordinate Alaska's pipeline project.

Two pipelines are competing to bring about 4 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from Alaska's North Slope to the lower 48 United States. Alaska holds an estimated 35 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

"There will be a place in the market for Alaska gas. We just have to get it to the buyers," he told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at his confirmation hearing.

Persily acknowledged that transportation costs will be higher for Alaskan gas than shale gas in the Lower 48 States, but production costs will be lower than shale gas.

TransCanada Corp (TRP.TO) and Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) have teamed up to build a pipeline, while BP Plc (BP.L) and ConocoPhillips (COP.N) have joined forces in a rival project.

"Eventually it's going to become one project. No one expects those two pipes," said Persily. "It's going to be a commercial deal that involves all four of those companies."

To help cover the costs of the winning pipeline, which could have a price tag of up to $40 billion and may take a decade to complete, Congress has approved $18 billion in federal loan guarantees for the project.

Persily is a former Alaska journalist who has worked for more than a decade on oil and gas issues for three Alaska governors.

(Reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

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TransCanada Pipeline Background and Resources
(Help Stop The Pipeline)
http://www.boldnebraska.org/pipeline-background-resources
Nebraskans are speaking out and taking action to help stop the TransCanada pipeline. This page is meant to be a resource with various reports and background about this critical topic.



We think the pipeline is a 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 the Emergency Response Plan for the current tarsands oil pipeline that is already in the ground in our state. The plan has yet to be released.

Groups raising concerns and working to stop the pipeline in our state include Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Nebraska Sierra Club, Nebraskans for Peace, Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska Audubon Society, Nebraska Common Cause, Guardians of the Good Life and Bold Nebraska.

Actions

Individuals can take action to help stop the pipeline. Please help spread the word!

FLYER: We created a one-page flyer that gives a good overview of the issue and a call to action. This is a great flyer you can download and print--give to your friends, family and co-workers.

SUMMIT: On July 21st, we held a statewide summit. The first hour was presentations by experts and the second hour was Q+A. (video coming soon, we apologize it is not up yet for viewing)

PETITION: Sign the petition that we will send to state and national elected leaders at tinyurl.com/protectnebraska.

YARD SIGNS: Nebraska groups created yard signs, bumper stickers and t-shirts for Nebraskans to show their public opposition the pipeline. We had to order a 3rd batch or yard signs and bumper stickers, they can be picked up (after 9/1/10) at 1141 H Street, 3rd, Floor in Lincoln during the week from 10am-5pm or you can email actions@boldnebraska.org.

LETTERS: Currently, we are focusing letters to Gov. Heineman. 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. Lastly, we think Heineman should require TransCanada to set aside a trust for any spills or other issues so our state and taxpayers do not have to pay for the clean-up costs.

Governor Heineman
P.O. Box 94848
Lincoln, NE 68509

Phone: 402-471-2244

Background

TransCanada, an international company based in Canada, is trying to obtain a permit from the United States government to build a second pipeline in our state. TransCanada refers to this new, proposed pipeline as Keystone XL (the current pipeline in the ground already is called Keystone).

The pipeline carries the most expensive and dirtiest form of oil, called tarsands. It is a think form of oil that requires many chemicals and high heat to push it through the pipeline.

Secretary Clinton, because the pipeline crosses the US/Canada border, must approve the pipeline by granting a permit to TransCanada. Because of federal laws, Clinton must go through certain steps before she makes her decision, which includes various environmental studies and public hearings.

Under the Bush Administration and under Governor Heineman’s administration, a TransCanada pipeline -- called Keystone -- was approved and is currently in the ground with oil flowing. That pipeline is NOT at capacity, so the obvious first question is why build another pipeline?

If the new pipeline is approved, 1.1 million barrels of tarsands oil, the dirtiest form of oil, will be pumping through our state everyday. The current pipeline, when at capacity, will pump 435,000 barrels of oil through our land and water.

We currently have no state laws that regulate oil pipelines. We have no trust fund set aside to help families if their land, water or health are affected. We have no Emergency Response Plan that has been made public. Nebraskans are, right now with the current pipeline in the ground, at risk and at the mercy of TransCanada if/when a leak, spill, blowout or anything else happens with the pipe. Additionally, numerous reports have cited increased rates of cancer at the source of the tarsands production in Canada.

National Wildlife report on overview and dangers of pipeline: View PDF

Plains Justice report on expense of pipeline: View PDF

Questions raised about potential increase in rates of cancer linked to tarsands: View Article

Current News

Tv, print and radio in Nebraska and nationwide are covering the pipeline story closely.

Some recent articles of notice are:

KETV's investigative piece by Ryan Luby

One of the first Lincoln Journal Star articles on the pipeline by Art Hovey

Omaha World Herald has also covered the pipeline extensively, articles are written by Paul Hammel

A new study on Tar Sands, which is the type of oil in the TransCanada pipelines, brings up the basic fact that the Tar Sands are dirty, expensive and cause cancer. The Tar Sands are so bad,banks are now saying they will not lend to companies who process Tar Sands.

Public Hearings

In May 2010, The Department of State held a series of public hearings in Nebraska to get input on the draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) report. Nebraskans were able to get a copy of the draft EIS, ask questions and make comments that were all part of the official record. The Department of State is now going through all of those comments -- made in other states the pipeline is going through as well -- and must respond to all comments and questions. There is no timeline set on this process. Some think their report will be issued this Fall, others say it will not be ready until next year. At these hearings not one Nebraskan stood up in support of the pipeline. All comments made by Nebraskans were opposing the pipeline and/or expressing major concerns and asking many questions. One welder from Arkansas was at the hearings and made statements in support of the pipeline. His company got the contract to weld the current pipeline.

The Nebraska Power Review Board met in June to grant permission to the Nebraska Public Power Department (NPPD) to build an additional 3 transmission lines to help support the proposed (not even approved yet) pipeline. The transmission lines will cost taxpayers $49-64 million dollars. TransCanada will pay Nebraska back (in theory) on a monthly basis. Governor Heineman has not made public how much TransCanada is currently paying the state in taxes for the current pipeline and how much the second pipeline would bring to the state.

In July, NPPD held a series of public meetings to get input on the proposed new transmission lines. The lines will cost taxpayers $49-64 million and TransCanada is supposed to pay Nebraska back on a monthly basis.

Blog post on the Nebraska Department of State public hearings: View Post

Department of State EIS report: View Report

Farmers Union comments to EIS: View PDF

Nebraska Wildlife comments to EIS: View PDF

National coalition comments to EIS: View PDF

Nebraska and National Elected Officials

No elected official in Nebraska has officially stated they are opposing the pipeline.

Senators Nelson and Johanns have both issued press statements stating they have questions. Additionally Reps. Smith and Fortenberry have as well. Rep. Terry has yet to make a statement. Senator Nelson and Rep. Fortenberry seem to be taking the most interest and action in this issue.

The most comprehensive statement and action to date has been Senator Nelson. A PDF of his statement is below.

Governor Heineman and Attorney General Brunning have both taken campaign contributions from TransCanada.

State Senators Dubas, Dierks and Sullivan attended the Dept. of State public hearings. State Senator Ken Haar has attended several meetings and raised questions in public interviews about the pipeline.

State Senator Fulton sent a letter to the Dept. of State asking a series of questions. A PDF of his statement is below.

The State Senators that the pipeline goes through their districts include Sens. Deb Fischer, Russ Karpisek, Kate Sullivan, Annette Dubas and Tom Carlson.

Fifty national Members of Congress have submitted an official letter requesting Secretary Clinton to conduct more studies and answer the questions about greenhouse gas emission related to the pipeline.

Senator Nelson public statements: View PDF

State Senator Fulton letter to Sec. Clinton: View PDF

Members of Congress letter to Sec. Clinton: View PDF

Maps of the Proposed and Current Pipelines

Dept of State map of current and proposed pipeline across US: View the MAP

TransCanada’s map of Nebraska and proposed pipeline: View JPG

TransCanada’s map of the current and proposed pipeline across the US: View PDF

About TransCanada

TransCanada has business dealings with numerous big oil companies worldwide. Their corporate bio says they build energy infrastructure for North America. TransCanada does not simply use our land to produce oil for the United States. In fact, they use North America land to process oil to sell to whoever is the highest bidder. They have also come under fire for skirting safety measures and using lower quality steel from China and India. ConocoPhillips now owns 50% of the Keystone pipeline (the current pipeline in the ground already in Nebraska).

Press release about the partnership between TransCanada and Conoco: View Press Release

BP, TransCanada and Conoco partnerships on gas pipelines: Visit Article

News article on faulty steel: Visit Article

Plains Justice faulty steel report: View PDF

More Info on Pipeline and Tarsands Oil

Visit the Plains Justice Blog

Visit National Wildlife

Visit the Sierra Club

RELATED ARTICLES:

Heineman Allows TransCanada to Bully Nebraska Landowners
Pipeline Rallies
TransCanada Pulls Waiver Request
Pipeline Talks Continue
Oil Spills Get Closer to Home
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