2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumSalon: Did Obama Just Kill Keystone XL?
Emphasis mine.
Did Obama just kill Keystone XL?
Not necessarily, but his new policy makes it less likely the administration will approve the pipeline
BY ALEX SEITZ-WALD
A 2011 Keystone video protest outside the White House (Wikimedia)
Just ahead of the presidents big speech on climate change, the Huffington Posts Sam Stein breaks the news that President Obama will ask Secretary of State John Kerry to reject the Keystone XL pipeline if State finds the pipeline increases carbon emissions. Its huge news that took environmentalists completely by surprise. They didnt expect the president to address Keystone in his speech hes avoided discussing the pipeline at all since issuing an executive order to have State study the environmental impact some time ago.
So is this the end of Keystone? Stein says the policy somewhat splits the difference not killing the project outright, but ensuring that it meets a basic environmental standard.
Environmentalists are thrilled, but reserving a healthy skepticism because theres still a big if here.
While it may seem obvious that the pipeline would increase emissions (and most climate scientists have said it would), the State Departments initial environmental impact statement (EIS) concluded the pipeline would have negligible impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, because oil sands from Alberta would still be transported via rail or other pipelines if Keystone XL was never built. The assessment, written by a contractor that was seen as overly friendly to the industry, was immediately controversial and even drew criticism from the EPA. Its currently under review.
more...
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/did_obama_just_kill_keystone_xl/singleton/
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)We ARE getting the pipeline one way or the other, and we're going to like it.
We will pipe sludge, but not water to states that really need it. Instead of letting towns flood, why not come up with a water pipeline to send the overflow throughout the US. Why must we put more at risk with this monster that some "terrorist" could probably blow up and cause havoc. Why are we allowing ourselves to become more vulnerable?
msongs
(69,503 posts)lapfog_1
(29,824 posts)what's the problem with it?
I heard the President say that it would not be approved if it can't demonstrate these reasonable restrictions...
And every power plant and car and appliance sold in the US should be held to the same standards.
I am a very committed "green" and I have no problem with this statement.
Of course, I don't believe that the operators of the tar sands or the pipeline can demonstrate either of the two conditions.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)"Oops, We spilled" Do they have a safe way to clean up the mess? We saw in Arkansas how they swept sludge into the storm drains just to get it out of the streets. They ONLY clean what people can see. The rest gets lost in pointing fingers going all the way down the line till it's forgotten. How much money is it going to cost to protect this pipeline? Or are they even going to protect it. They are already getting away with not putting high tech devises that show leaks right away. They are ALREADY negligent.
They get away with that, while me living in Ca have to get a smog check every 2 years. My little truck is better regulated than this pipeline.
And with a BIG smile on his face. But he won't. I am pro Obama for the most part even with all the spying. I would rather have to say over the phone "Hail Obama" to use my phone, than to have this monster be put up.
great white snark
(2,646 posts)proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)They are silent after Al Gore praises the president.
OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)He's not a dictator!
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)That the progressive/libertarian left are more authoritarian than, apparently, they realize. It seems, while decrying authoritarianism, they are in favor of expanding the power of the Executive Office to go around Constitutional limits.
But I guess its Okay because it is what they want him to do.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)he was specific about it, he was talking about hurricanes that had happened just a few years earlier, it was easily proved false, but he still said it, and few news outlets called bothered to point out it wasn't true.
With Keystone, it will be prospective studies, much easier to distort if Obama chooses to, and he has already shown the willingness to blatantly distort things that had already happened, to advance his pro-offshore-drilling policy.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)What then of the pipeline and it's sludge. Sludge saves tornado victims from tornado, but now they will suffer years of illnesses that will be denied were caused by the sludge. Win Win.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)PDittie
(8,322 posts)Read his words in their full context. And keep in mind that this is the same guy who said he would not let anyone "slash" Social Security benefits.
Cha
(303,046 posts)why it's not going to happen.
thanks flpoljunkie
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)""environmental impact statement (EIS) concluded the pipeline would have negligible impact""
Don't you just love the way the corps 'game' the reporting system. Don't include the, mining, refining, possible leak/containment accident, of the resourse in their impact statement.
Later on when the pipeline breaks because of some flood, killer tornado, or wild fire and contaminates 50 square miles the corp will whine for billions in clean-up funds, "the president signed the ok"
ConcernedCanuk
(13,509 posts).
.
.
Eject our Harper-dude - and close down the tar sands that are ruining our environment.
CC
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)Granted, TBH, it doesn't necessarily mean that Keystone's finished for good, but it does seem to show that Obama has, once again, taken the facts into consideration.....and we need that right now.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)The President is just being very careful and prudent and deliberate... which the right way to approach this complicated issue.