Today, the the Department of State released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the new Presidential Permit application for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
- The Draft SEIS is available at: http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/draftseis/index.htm.
The SEIS acknowledges that the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline would create “numerous” and “substantial” impacts on the environment, but they are claiming that the project is a better than any of the alternatives, essentially clearing the project to go ahead.
The report concluded that the tarsands diluted bitumen (dilbit) that the pipeline will transport into and across the U.S. produces 17 percent more greenhouse gases than heavy crude oil refined on the Texas Gulf Coast. In addition, it said the construction phase of the project would result in carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to about 626,000 passenger vehicles operating for a full year.
The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, once published by the EPA, starts the clock on the public comment period. At this time, we expect the SEIS to be published sometime next week. Our best guess is Wednesday. From that point, the public will have 45 days to comment on the document, so let’s dust off our legal pads and pens and start drafting our comments. Having spent three days on a bus and marching around the mall in Washington DC in freezing weather with many of you, I know you have a lot to say.
Comments can be addressed to the following mailbox: keystonecomments@state.gov.
