Debate on Keystone XL Pipeline

Introduction

Activist, 'greatest good'- conservationist, Navajo Activist from Turtle Island, Cornucopian (economist), Nebraska (farmer), utilitarian philosopher, land Ethicist and I. we have gathered cosmically at Salty Dog Saloon in Steel city, Nebraska for drink, food, pool, and discussion about the merits about the merit of 1,179-mile Keystone XL Pipeline. The keystone pipeline plans to transport oil sands across the North America from near Hardistry, Albert, to steel city, over parts of the Ogallala Aquifer, the Nebraska sand hills, and various tribal lands, would replace the current keystone pipeline.

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As the drinks and pool progresses we begin to open a debate on the controversial pipeline from our own prospective. The discussion starts.

CONSERVATIONIST. Clears his throat, as all you know the developer of the Keystone XL oil pipeline in Montana will start its construction fully in 2019. As you know we know the harms of oil spillage and therefore the company is supposed to lay down proper strategies to avoid the pipeline harming the environment. For example what measures have they laid down to avoid oil spillage to the environment?

STUDENT. According to Reuters, the state department recently sent a letter to the Native American tribes, telling them that the upcoming TransCanada is part of government consultation to minimize harm to the environment; hence it means the government is keen on the pollution to environment. Since the construction of project would lead to disturbance of land, water resources, destruction of sacred sites, and pollution to water hence government together with relevant agencies have to take keen on environmental impacts upon the construction Keystone pipeline.

The FARMER. As the 8billion dollars Keystone XL pipeline, is said to ship inform Canada's Alberta oil sands to Steele City and the refineries along the Gulf Coast. The environmental advocates have challenged it, due to its environment hazardous. Its spillage might cause harm to the environment and more so cause death to aquatic animals such as fish. All the pipeline can lead to climatic change which affect the life of farming. In reference to 2017 Dakota spill where over 400 barrels were released from the original Keystone pipe network via leak, where the leak lasted for few minutes. According to the Federal and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, said that the leakage was caused by mechanical damage to the pipeline. The spillage of the oil might lead to damage of plant and aquatic animals.

NAVAJO (ACTIVIST). There are so many negative impacts on the Keystone XL project. The main issue is the oil spill which might transverse the sensitive terrain. And would bring about higher greenhouse emission from the extraction of the oil sands. The pipeline spills would pollute the air and critical water supplies and harm animals and migratory birds. This because its original route is set to pass through the Sandhill the largest wetland ecosystem in Nebraska and the Ogallala Aquifer. Which are one of the biggest reserves of water in the world. The Ogallala Aquifer provides drinking water for more than two million people and supports more than 20 million US dollars in agriculture. If the pipeline leaks can ruin drinking water and devastate mild-western U.S. economy. According to Dr. John Stanbury analysis, I the oil spills would release the benzene which is carcinogenic to human. This would contaminate water to form plume that can extend more than 450 miles at concentration exceeding the safe drinking water act maximum.

CORNUCOPIAN (ECONOMIST). According to Russ Girling the CEO of the TransCanada the project will put more than 20,000 US workers to work and spending of 7 billion us dollar this would stimulate the economy of the US. And an independent study conducted by Cornell ILR Global Labor Institute show that the Keystone XL would result in more than 5000 temporary construction jobs, this will lead to increase of oil prices in Midwest which also, in turn, may lead to the reduction of the national employment throughout the country. The construction would also lead to the increase of the production of gasoline to the Northwest which may lead to the expansion of the Gulf refining industry. Hence the development of the pipeline will lead to the growth of the economy of the country.

STUDENT. The Keystone pipeline will create more than 35 percent permanent jobs according to Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. This might lead to the unintended economic consequences to the construction of Pipeline. Also, the North-South crude oil transport will increase the price of oil sand producers will raise the cost of the oil sand. These higher revenues have a positive impact on the development of the industries in Alberta. This will, in turn, lead to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar versus USA dollar due to petrodollar. The pipeline construction can also lead to the disruption of the farms, ranches, and damage to water points and the swage lines. According to Cornell University, Global Labor Institute pipeline spills not only they cause environmental concern but also affect the economic and employment costs, and also would put the existing job at risk.

Many people including the Americans and Canadians have opposed the construction of the project. Due to the following reasons damage of the water resources, pollution and water contaminations, which may lead to health risk among the communities. Even people have gone ahead and protested against it, many of them have been arrested. Indigenous communities are mostly concerned with the health risk posed by the extension of the Keystone project. The extraction of the oil sands would contaminate the caught fish and untreated surface water. Many universities have done a lot of research to provide details on potential risk on Ogallala Aquifer.

The Keystone XL proposal has faced a lot of criticism from the environmentalists, due to its impacts on the Sandhill regions. TransCanada Corporation has changed the original main route of the pipeline to minimize the disturbance of land, water resources, and sacred areas.

References

Avery, S. (2013). The pipeline and the paradigm: Keystone XL, tar sands, and the battle to defuse the carbon bomb.

Ilgunas, K. (2017). Trespassing across America: One man's epic, never -done-before (and sort of illegal) hike across the heartland.

Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson., Rooney Engineering, Inc., & Industrial Commission of North Dakota. (2009). Crude oil pipe pipeline feasibility study: Bakken to Keystone pipeline system. Bismarck, N.D: North Dakota Industrial Commission.

United States. (2015). Keystone XL and the national interest determination: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, second session, March 13, 2014.

Stansbury, J. (2011). Analysis of frequency, magnitude and consequence of worst-case spills from the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Lincoln, Neb: University of Nebraska Water Center.