To: Russ Girling, TransCanada, CEO, John Kerry, Secretary of State, President Donald Trump, and Governor Pete Ricketts
Nebraskans Join Arkansans in Petitioning for Tarsands Pipelines to Avoid Freshwater
As Arkansas officials plan to ask ExxonMobil to move the Pegasus Pipeline away from the Lake Maumelle Watershed in the wake off a tarsands spill, Nebraskans are circulating a similar petition to Pres. Obama. Gov. Heineman, Sec. Kerry and TransCanada to stop the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that still crosses the Ogallala Aquifer—one of the country’s largest sources of freshwater that provides irrigation and drinking water to millions of Americans.
The route still crosses the Sandhills, Ogallala Aquifer, family water wells and major rivers that provide water to families, farms and ranches. Governor Heineman went back on his word to protect our water and property rights, so our last hope is President Obama and Sec. Kerry to protect our homes and families.
A professor at the University of Nebraska, released a report that the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline would result in 91 major spills over the 50 year life of the pipeline. Given the unique chemical makeup of tarsands that causes the dilbit to sink in water and benzene plumes to travel for miles, these spills are particularly difficult to clean-up and have long-lasting environmental impacts, as witnessed by the tarsands spill in the Kalamazoo River that 3 years later and almost $1billion is still not cleaned up.
In a 2011 letter to the President, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman expressed this concern for the safety of the state’s water supply:
"I am opposed to the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline route because it is directly over the Ogallala Aquifer. Therefore, I am asking you to disapprove TransCanada’s pending permit request. Do not allow TransCanada to build a pipeline over the Ogallala Aquifer and risk the potential damage to Nebraska’s water."
Though the route has undergone some minor adjustments, it still passes through the Ogallala Aquifer with just as many miles and risks as day one. The route used to cross 90 miles of the Sandhills and still crosses 70 miles of the fragile soil. The new "re-route" in Nebraska is nothing more than Gov. Heineman giving political cover to TransCanada by shrinking the Sandhills and erasing the Aquifer from his memory.
All signatures will be submitted to the following officials:
-President Obama (he can deny pipeline with stroke of pen)
-Governor Heineman (he can require TransCanada really avoid Sandhills and Aquifer)
-Sec. Kerry (he can do a real water and spill analysis and report this pipeline is too risky and not in our national interest)
-Russ Girling (he can realize this is a risky business move and abandon KXL)
The route still crosses the Sandhills, Ogallala Aquifer, family water wells and major rivers that provide water to families, farms and ranches. Governor Heineman went back on his word to protect our water and property rights, so our last hope is President Obama and Sec. Kerry to protect our homes and families.
A professor at the University of Nebraska, released a report that the Keystone XL tarsands pipeline would result in 91 major spills over the 50 year life of the pipeline. Given the unique chemical makeup of tarsands that causes the dilbit to sink in water and benzene plumes to travel for miles, these spills are particularly difficult to clean-up and have long-lasting environmental impacts, as witnessed by the tarsands spill in the Kalamazoo River that 3 years later and almost $1billion is still not cleaned up.
In a 2011 letter to the President, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman expressed this concern for the safety of the state’s water supply:
"I am opposed to the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline route because it is directly over the Ogallala Aquifer. Therefore, I am asking you to disapprove TransCanada’s pending permit request. Do not allow TransCanada to build a pipeline over the Ogallala Aquifer and risk the potential damage to Nebraska’s water."
Though the route has undergone some minor adjustments, it still passes through the Ogallala Aquifer with just as many miles and risks as day one. The route used to cross 90 miles of the Sandhills and still crosses 70 miles of the fragile soil. The new "re-route" in Nebraska is nothing more than Gov. Heineman giving political cover to TransCanada by shrinking the Sandhills and erasing the Aquifer from his memory.
All signatures will be submitted to the following officials:
-President Obama (he can deny pipeline with stroke of pen)
-Governor Heineman (he can require TransCanada really avoid Sandhills and Aquifer)
-Sec. Kerry (he can do a real water and spill analysis and report this pipeline is too risky and not in our national interest)
-Russ Girling (he can realize this is a risky business move and abandon KXL)
Why is this important?
After another tarsands spill, Arkansas is taking action by asking Exxon to move their pipeline from their water supply. Nebraska stands with Arkansas and asks President Obama to deny Keystone XL so we do not have to plead with TransCanada to do the basics of protecting our water.
"The jobs will soon disappear, the energy independence will be on a ship to some unknown destination, but the scar on America's landscape and the risks to our water will be with us forever." -Randy Thompson, landowner
"The jobs will soon disappear, the energy independence will be on a ship to some unknown destination, but the scar on America's landscape and the risks to our water will be with us forever." -Randy Thompson, landowner