Canada Tar Sands Pipeline Plan to Go Forward

I know I'm a couple days behind on this but the analysis is what interests me even more than how disgusting this plan to pipe more oil in from the tar sands of Canada is. For a full article on the plan read here. Basically, the US State Department has OK'ed a multibillion dollar pipeline that will carry crude oil from Canadian oil sands (in Hardisty, Alberta) to refineries in the continental US (in Superior, Wisconsin). The pipeline will be 1,000 miles long and will "advance the strategic interests of the United States." That is to say, getting oil from Canada, a staunch ally, is better than getting it from some unstable Middle Eastern country or something like that. The environmental implications are formidable, however:

"The State Department has rubber-stamped a project that will mean more air, water and global warming pollution, particularly in the communities near refineries that will process this dirty oil," said Earthjustice attorney Sarah Burt. "The project's environmental review fails to show how construction of the Alberta Clipper is in the national interest. We will go to court to make sure that all the impacts of this pipeline are considered."

The environmental and native groups point out that "Tar sands development in Alberta is creating an environmental catastrophe, with toxic tailings ponds so large they can be seen from space and plans to strip away the forests and peat lands in an area the size of Florida."

"In addition," they argue, "greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands production are three times that of conventional crude oil and it contains 11 times more sulfur and nickel, six times more nitrogen and five times more lead than conventional oil. These toxins are released into the U.S. air and water when the crude oil is processed into fuels by refineries."

The coalition says this decision contradicts President Obama's promise to cut global warming and America's addiction to oil while investing in a clean energy future.

"The tar sands pipeline connects U.S. refiners and consumers with the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive crude oil on earth," said Kevin Reuther, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy's legal director.

Native Canadian groups have come out in firm opposition to the exploitation of the tar sands as well. Members of the Cree aboriginal people are joining Climate Camp protests in London to bring attention to corporate Britain's involvement in the tar sands of Canada. Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, from Fort Chipewyan, a centre of Alberta's tar sands schemes, said: "British companies such as BP and Royal Bank of Scotland in partnership with dozens of other companies are driving this project, which is having such devastating effects on our environment and communities. Read more here.

Also, a group of tribal members have gathered nearly 700 signatures on a petition to hold a referendum on the Leech Lake tribal council's agreement to allow the line through tribal land.

"We are saddened by the news that the Presidential Permit was signed today," said Marty Cobenais of the nonprofit Indigenous Environmental Network, based in Bemidji, Minnesota.

"The voices and rights of the Leech Lake Band members are not being listened to by the Obama Administration. According to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Constitution they are allowed to hold a referendum vote and allow the members to decide to accept the agreement with Enbridge or not.

"If they vote against the agreement, the pipeline route would have to go around the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, which would require a new Environmental Impact Study, plus other permits including a new Presidential Permit," said Cobenais.

The project was approved before all the federal regulations are completed, he said. "The Bureau of Indian Affairs is still waiting to receive a completed application from Enbridge Energy and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to begin their approval process for allotment lands affected by these pipelines."

I wonder what will happen...