Reposted from 350.org

Over the next month, the State Department will hold a number of public hearings on the proposed KeystoneXL tar sands pipeline, where community members may testify and attend. 350.org will be working with dozens of partners and community organizers to ensure that at each of these hearings, we show the State Department and President Obama that we don’t want or need a dirty, dangerous tar sands pipeline!

Here’s a schedule for upcoming hearings:

Monday, September 26, 2011

Bob Bowers Civic Center
3401 Cultural Center Drive
Port Arthur, Texas 77642
4:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Kansas Expo Center
1 Expocenter Drive
Topeka, Kansas 66612
12:00 pm – 3:30pm, 4:00pm – 8:00 pm

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Dawson Community College
Toepke Center Auditorium
300 Community Drive
Glendive, Montana 59330
4:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Pershing Center  |  Attend this hearing >>
226 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
12:00 pm – 3:30pm, 4:00pm – 8:00 pm

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

University of Texas  |  Attend this hearing >>
Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium
2313 Red River Street
Austin, Texas 78705
12:00 pm – 3:30pm, 4:00pm – 8:00 pm

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Best Western Ramkota
920 West Sioux Avenue,
Pierre, South Dakota 57501
12:00 pm – 3:30pm, 4:00pm – 8:00 pm

West Holt High School  |  Attend this hearing >>
1000 N. Main Street
Atkinson, Nebraska 68713
4:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Friday, September 30, 2011

Reed Center Exhibition Hall
5800 Will Rogers Road
Midwest City, Oklahoma 73110
4:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Friday, October 7, 2011

Washington, District of Columbia   |  Attend this hearing >>
Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004

More Information:

PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS

SPEAKERS: All members of the public are welcome to attend the meetings and
state their comments for the administrative record. Persons who want to speak at
the meeting will need to sign up in person at the entrance of the meeting venue and
be given a number. The order of speakers will be determined on a first-come, firstserved
basis, according to the sign-up sheet. Those wishing to speak must be
present when their name or number is called or they will forfeit their time.
COMMENTS: Remarks made at the meetings will be recorded, transcribed, and
entered into the administrative record for the State Department’s consideration of
the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Each speaker will be allowed 3-5 minutes to
make remarks, depending on the number of people who sign up to speak. Speakers
will be asked to state their name and any organization with which they are
affiliated.

Depending on attendance, it may not be possible for all those who sign up to have
the opportunity to speak. The State Department encourages individuals who do not
have the opportunity to speak or who are unable to complete their comments in the
allotted time to submit comments on the national interest determination in written
form. A State Department official will be available to accept written comments,
and a summary of all comments will be incorporated in the record of decision for
the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The Department will also accept written
comments on the national interest determination beginning on the date the final
Environmental Impact Statement is issued. In order to ensure that comments are
processed and considered before the decision is made on the permit application, all
comments must be submitted by midnight on October 9, 2011.

PURPOSE: These meetings are an opportunity for the public to express views on
all aspects of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Participants are encouraged to
recount information illustrating their view about whether the issuance of a
Presidential Permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project is in the U.S. national
interest.

PRESIDING OFFICER: The meetings will be chaired by a senior official from the
U.S. Department of State. At the beginning of the meeting, the presiding officer
will explain the status of the application for the permit and the Department’s
process for making a decision on the Permit, but will not answer questions. The
presiding officer or an assistant will announce the name of each speaker from the
sign-up list.

PROTOCOL: We ask attendees to respect the meeting procedures in order to
ensure a constructive information gathering session. No signs or banners will be
allowed inside the meeting venue. The presiding officer will use his/her discretion
to conduct the meeting in an orderly manner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: A comprehensive description of the proposed
Project and up-to-date information regarding the public meetings are available at
www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov. The final Environmental Impact Statement,
including a summary of public comments received during two prior public
comment periods, will also be available online.

Comments can be submitted by the following methods: online at
www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov; e-mail at keystonexl-nid@cardno.com; fax at
206-269-0098; or mailed to the following address:

Alexander Yuan
Keystone XL EIS Project
P.O. Box 96503-98500
Washington, D.C. 20090-6503