Senators Raise ‘Serious Concerns’ About State Department Study on Tar Sands Oil Pipeline

News — admin October 14, 2011 at 4:58 pm

From the office of Senator Bernie Sanders:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 – Three key senators today questioned the U.S. State Department about its dealings with a Canadian company seeking U.S. approval to build a crude oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

The State Department is responsible for deciding whether to approve the billion-dollar Keystone XL pipeline project. TransCanada, the company trying to build the pipeline, reportedly was permitted to screen private firms bidding to perform an environmental impact study.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton raising what they called “serious concerns” about the matter. Their letter questioned why Cardno Entrix was picked to perform the critical study despite its significant financial ties to TransCanada.

“We find it inappropriate that a contractor with financial ties to TransCanada, which publicly promotes itself by identifying TransCanada as a ‘major client’, was selected to conduct what is intended to be an objective government review,” the senators said.

“This is a critically important issue for our environment and the energy future of our country. At a time when all credible scientific evidence and opinion indicate that we are losing the battle against global warming, it is imperative that we have objective environmental assessments of major carbon-dependent energy projects,” the letter added.

The senators said “the only satisfactory remedy” would be for the State Department to conduct a new, objective, and comprehensive environmental review, either directly or through a contractor with no financial ties to TransCanada.

Environmental activist Bill McKibben, a leading opponent of the Tar Sands pipeline project, applauded the senators.

“I’m so glad to see senators sticking up not just for the integrity of the atmosphere, but also the integrity of the political process. If environmental reviews are run by the companies involved, there’s really not much point in doing them; hopefully this letter will help the Obama administration figure out that it’s time to start over again.”

To read the senators’ letter, click here.

Comments (6)

http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Lewis/100002896706978 Steve Lewis

I’m constantly amazed at how corrupt companies and the government can be.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Lewis/100002896706978 Steve Lewis

I’m constantly amazed at how corrupt companies and the government can be.
Tim Parmly

After talking to a landowner in Neb., I’m ashamed of our state dept. He said Transcanada officials told him to sign over his land or they would sue him for it. If that didn’t work, they had the right of imminent domain. A foreign business threatening an American citizen. And the state dept. lets it happen. Transcanada has already cleared about a 100 miles of land they cocerced from people WITHOUT the necessary permit from the state dept. What arrogance. STOP THE PIPELINE.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1209529731 Melissa R Walker

Bush expanded the legal definition of “eminent domain” from “the good of the public to the good of the corporation”. Can the property owner can challenge the “acquisition” through due process? NO. As a property owner you now have no property rights under “eminent domain” as the regulation of property for the good of the “public character” is equal to “aquistion” for the good of the corporate entity.
Drbach

We need the pipeline. We are buying oil from countries that put their women in holes and rock them to death. Canada is giving us a chance to get out from under the Saudis and others even more corrupt. If you think we can get away from oil immediately, you all are very naive. Yes dI believe in climate change and problems. The larger issue for this problem is the coal burning electric plants. The is a foot print we need to get rid of. You people need to get educated a little and put you energy in a different direction. Canada is giving us a chance. If we dont take it the Chinese will and we are screwed.
Anonymous

Drbach, with all due respect, “we people” are educating ourselves on this issue. For example, many of us have read a report published by Oilchange International, “TransCanada’s Business Model for Keystone XL”, that outlines the binding agreements with Valero and 5 other oil exporters. Most of this oil, at least 76 %, is destined for foreign export to China, Latin America and Europe. Very little , if any, of this oil will reach the US market. In fact, some sources acknowledge a glut of Canadian oil for US at the time. I’d encourage you to read this report, and the 33 endnotes, which list sources for the article. Most of us agree we cannot immediately extricate ourselves from fossil fuels; hence the push for research and funding for renewable energies. And many would cetainly agree that coal fired plants are not the answer, either. But this pipeline is a disaster waiting to happen, in so many ways. So would you like to contribute to the (informed) dialogue, or continue to toss out generalized insults?