Summary:
This article describes the Obama administration's most recent delay in the looming decision over the controversial Keystone XL pipeline proposal. A judge in a Nebraska state district court ruled that the path of the pipeline through Nebraska was unlawful, and as a result, the decision on the pipeline will have to be stalled for further review. The time for public comments has expired with over 2.5 million people commenting on the issue. However, the time period for agency comments has now been extended. Agencies will be able to comment until 14 days after a final decision on the Nebraska route has been made. If Nebraska decides to block the pipeline's route entirely, it will present a host of problems for the developers and the State Department. If Nebraska decides to allow the pipeline but at a different location, all analyses of the original State Dept. report on KXL will have to be redone.
Analysis:
I think that one way or another, the Obama administration will approve this pipeline. The article mentions that a decision will likely be made after the 2014 elections in November. Since the decision to approve this pipeline would be unpopular among Obama supporters and democrats in general, it makes sense to delay it. More and more opposition to the pipeline has been building up recently, with anti-KXL activists holding signs and waving banners at rallies across the country that say "We will dismantle the pipeline" or "I pledge to destroy the pipeline". This issue definitely has all the ingredients needed for the peaceful protests to turn violent. The article says environmental activists were enthused by the delay, but to me it seems very concerning. This administration has proven time and time again that it has no interest in the health of the environment and the strength of America's diverse ecosystems, so I think taking yet another delay is just more proof that the pipeline will be approved. If the administration were serious about climate change, they would reject this pipeline right now.
Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/18/keystone-xl-obama_n_5175185.html?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green&utm_hp_ref=green
Showing posts with label keystone xl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keystone xl. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Blog 5: Decision time for Keystone XL
Summary:
President Obama's approval or rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline - an extension of Canada's TransCanada pipeline that will slice through Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska - will set the stage for future environmental policy in the US and show the world (sort of) whether or not the US is serious about tackling environmental issues. The article provides a great timeline of the controversial proposed pipeline, and even points out when resistance to the pipeline began heating up. Supporters of the pipeline have claimed that it will brings hundreds, possibly thousands of jobs to the affected areas, while protesters claim that it would be devastating for animals and the environment, bad for the economy, and tarnish the reputation of the US as a global leader in progressive environmental policy.
Analysis:
The Obama administration has done a terrific job stalling on this issue and distracting environmental activists from the dozens of lesser-known and equally massive pipeline projects that are being installed around the country. I do not think President Obama will do the right thing and reject this pipeline because his administration has been openly hostile towards the environment and activists in general. The State Dept. report on Keystone XL confirmed the potential for serious environmental damage if the pipeline were to leak, and Obama had previously stated he would not sign off on the projects if it posed those serious environmental risks. And still, we have not heard his decision. Secretary of State John Kerry foolishly made climate change a major focus of the Obama administration, and we will see how resilient they are in the face of the oil lobby.
Link:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/decision-time-looms-keystone
President Obama's approval or rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline - an extension of Canada's TransCanada pipeline that will slice through Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska - will set the stage for future environmental policy in the US and show the world (sort of) whether or not the US is serious about tackling environmental issues. The article provides a great timeline of the controversial proposed pipeline, and even points out when resistance to the pipeline began heating up. Supporters of the pipeline have claimed that it will brings hundreds, possibly thousands of jobs to the affected areas, while protesters claim that it would be devastating for animals and the environment, bad for the economy, and tarnish the reputation of the US as a global leader in progressive environmental policy.
Analysis:
The Obama administration has done a terrific job stalling on this issue and distracting environmental activists from the dozens of lesser-known and equally massive pipeline projects that are being installed around the country. I do not think President Obama will do the right thing and reject this pipeline because his administration has been openly hostile towards the environment and activists in general. The State Dept. report on Keystone XL confirmed the potential for serious environmental damage if the pipeline were to leak, and Obama had previously stated he would not sign off on the projects if it posed those serious environmental risks. And still, we have not heard his decision. Secretary of State John Kerry foolishly made climate change a major focus of the Obama administration, and we will see how resilient they are in the face of the oil lobby.
Link:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/decision-time-looms-keystone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)