Opposition to Keystone XL Mounts—Along With Safety Questions

Opposition to Keystone XL Mounts—Along With Safety Questions

Opposition to Keystone XL Mounts—Along With Safety Questions

 Some members of Obama’s own party are speaking out against the pipeline project, as regulatory concerns mount. 

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

The arrests outside the White House may have ended, but the pressure to stop President Obama from approving the Keystone XL pipeline continues to build. Yesterday, the challenge came from within his own party: seven Democratic National Committee members signed a resolution urging Obama to reject the pipeline deal.

The document, authored by Maryland state legislator and DNC member Heather Mizeur, says that “by denying the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama would enhance national security, advance job creation in the new ‘green economy,’ improve public health, and take a positive stand for addressing climate change concerns.” Representative Mike Honda is one of the other six signers.

The DNC members aren’t the only members of the party to urge Obama to say no: Senator Patrick Leahy, along with Representatives Peter Welch and Steve Cohen, have also publicly opposed the pipeline. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders also opposes the project, and even a Republican Senator, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, has come out against the project, as has the Republican governor of that state.

Meanwhile, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has compiled a powerful research document that challenges many of the claims made by TransCanada and the US State Department about tough regulatory oversight of the project.

The State Department report that gave the Keystone XL pipeline a passing environmental grade repeatedly referenced new regulations from the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that govern pipeline transport of heavy crude oil—the type of oil that will be flowing through the Keystone XL pipeline, and which regulators don’t have much experience with.

But the NRDC found that the new regulations governing heavy crude aren’t all that rigorous. In fact, only twelve of the fifty-seven “new” rules actually differ from existing minimum requirements for pipeline safety. In some cases, the regulations were just reworded with no substantial difference. “This is one of the many examples of the State Department and TransCanada playing a shell game to avoid addressing the legitimate safety concerns that the American public has with the Keystone XL,” the study’s author said.

Support independent journalism that exposes oligarchs and profiteers


Donald Trump’s cruel and chaotic second term is just getting started. In his first month back in office, Trump and his lackey Elon Musk (or is it the other way around?) have proven that nothing is safe from sacrifice at the altar of unchecked power and riches.

Only robust independent journalism can cut through the noise and offer clear-eyed reporting and analysis based on principle and conscience. That’s what The Nation has done for 160 years and that’s what we’re doing now.

Our independent journalism doesn’t allow injustice to go unnoticed or unchallenged—nor will we abandon hope for a better world. Our writers, editors, and fact-checkers are working relentlessly to keep you informed and empowered when so much of the media fails to do so out of credulity, fear, or fealty.

The Nation has seen unprecedented times before. We draw strength and guidance from our history of principled progressive journalism in times of crisis, and we are committed to continuing this legacy today.

We’re aiming to raise $25,000 during our Spring Fundraising Campaign to ensure that we have the resources to expose the oligarchs and profiteers attempting to loot our republic. Stand for bold independent journalism and donate to support The Nation today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

Ad Policy
x