Completing Keystone Pipeline would ensure safest transport of oil

June 21:

A national debate is raging concerning the proposed building of the Keystone XL Pipeline. It would carry crude oil from Canadian tar sands to the Texas shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

The southern section of the pipeline, connecting Cushing, Oklahoma, and the Gulf, is complete and carrying oil. The planned northern leg of the pipeline would begin in Canada and connect to the southern leg. That would double the volume of oil exported from Canada. The total length of the pipeline would be about 1,660 miles.

Pressured by a diverse assortment of environmental groups, President Barack Obama’s administration has placed construction of the northern section on hold, pending further decisions.

The initial case against building the pipeline was the danger of an oil leak polluting the Ogallala aquifer. The body of water underlies the Great Plains and supplies drinking water for several states. It also contributes greatly to our abundance of food by irrigating a third of our farmland. Fear of the contamination has caused the pipeline to be rerouted, negating the argument.

Now, the main environmental argument against the pipeline is that global warming would be slowed by slowing the production of Canadian tar sands oil. Without the pipeline, rail shipments will be increased.

With China hungry for Canadian oil, the Northern Gateway pipeline is in the advanced planning stage. It will run to the Canadian west coast, supplying tar sands oil to the western U.S. and Asian markets.

It is quite evident that stopping the Keystone Pipeline would have no effect

on global warming. The oil will inevitably find a way to market.

At present, the U.S. has 2.3 million miles of pipeline that carry natural gas and oil. It seems ridiculous that another 1,660 miles could be so controversial.

Reducing unemployment is presented as a strong argument for the project. The estimates of temporary construction jobs vary widely, but a miniscule 50 permanent jobs would result.

Large pipelines are typically built in sparsely populated areas, enhancing safety. Railroads haul dangerous oil tank cars near roads, rivers and often through the heart of densely populated cities. Being very flammable, crude oil is hazardous to human life. A single Canadian derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, caused a fire and explosion that killed 47 people and burned 30 buildings.

In 2013, U.S. train derailments caused the release of 1.15 million gallons of crude oil. That is more than the total crude oil spilled by U.S. derailments in the previous 37 years. Presenting the bright side, the Association of American Railroads states that 99.99 percent of the oil shipments arrived safely.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. State Department reported that “pipelines larger than 12 inches in diameter in 2013 spilled more than 910,000 gallons of crude oil and petroleum.”

Oil needs to be transported by the safest method available. In 2013, U.S. pipelines spilled considerably less volume of oil products than railroads while carrying about 25 times the volume. That fact alone justifies building the Keystone XL Pipeline.A national debate is raging concerning the proposed building of the Keystone XL Pipeline. It would carry crude oil from Canadian tar sands to the Texas shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

The southern section of the pipeline, connecting Cushing, Oklahoma, and the Gulf, is complete and carrying oil. The planned northern leg of the pipeline would begin in Canada and connect to the southern leg. That would double the volume of oil exported from Canada. The total length of the pipeline would be about 1,660 miles.

Pressured by a diverse assortment of environmental groups, President Barack Obama’s administration has placed construction of the northern section on hold, pending further decisions.

The initial case against building the pipeline was the danger of an oil leak polluting the Ogallala aquifer. The body of water underlies the Great Plains and supplies drinking water for several states. It also contributes greatly to our abundance of food by irrigating a third of our farmland. Fear of the contamination has caused the pipeline to be rerouted, negating the argument.

Now, the main environmental argument against the pipeline is that global warming would be slowed by slowing the production of Canadian tar sands oil. Without the pipeline, rail shipments will be increased.

With China hungry for Canadian oil, the Northern Gateway pipeline is in the advanced planning stage. It will run to the Canadian west coast, supplying tar sands oil to the western U.S. and Asian markets.

It is quite evident that stopping the Keystone Pipeline would have no effect

on global warming. The oil will inevitably find a way to market.

At present, the U.S. has 2.3 million miles of pipeline that carry natural gas and oil. It seems ridiculous that another 1,660 miles could be so controversial.

Reducing unemployment is presented as a strong argument for the project. The estimates of temporary construction jobs vary widely, but a miniscule 50 permanent jobs would result.

Large pipelines are typically built in sparsely populated areas, enhancing safety. Railroads haul dangerous oil tank cars near roads, rivers and often through the heart of densely populated cities. Being very flammable, crude oil is hazardous to human life. A single Canadian derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, caused a fire and explosion that killed 47 people and burned 30 buildings.

In 2013, U.S. train derailments caused the release of 1.15 million gallons of crude oil. That is more than the total crude oil spilled by U.S. derailments in the previous 37 years. Presenting the bright side, the Association of American Railroads states that 99.99 percent of the oil shipments arrived safely.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. State Department reported that “pipelines larger than 12 inches in diameter in 2013 spilled more than 910,000 gallons of crude oil and petroleum.”

Oil needs to be transported by the safest method available. In 2013, U.S. pipelines spilled considerably less volume of oil products than railroads while carrying about 25 times the volume. That fact alone justifies building the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Source: http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20140621/OPINION02/306210014?&nclick_check=1


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