The proposed KXL Pipeline and Wildlife

Some important things happened in the last couple of months that will impact the pipeline decision. First, the State Dept published the final version of their revised EIR. They accepted comments (millions, twice as many against building the pipeline as for it. Next, they need to report on whether the pipeline would be in the U.S.'s interest, then decide whether or not to approve it. Then President Obama has to decide whether to sign off on it or not. There have been indications that the finsl decision would come by the beginning of May.

 But...a couple weeks ago a court in Nebraska ruled that the state's use of eminent domain against some landowners was unconstitutional, because the state bypassed the agency that was supposed to decide the issue. So as of now there is no legal pipeline route in Nebraska, and resolving this will take months, probably many months. More months to fight this thing.

But back to the State Dept. They again concluded that the pipeline, if built, would have no impact on the environment or the climate.

Huh? Leaving the important issue of climate change to other bloggers, let's look at the effects the pipeline would have on wild animals and land, not even in Canada, just along the U.S. portion of the pipeline route.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, there are 10 documented species that would be put at risk. These are: American Burrowing Beetle, Northern Swift Fox, Greater Sage Grouse, Whooping Crane, Black-footed Ferret, Sprague's Pippet (a bird), Piping Plover, Western Prairie Fringed Orchid, Pallid Sturgeon, and the Interior Least Tern. The threats to them include habitat destruction due to clearing the land for the pipeline, new roads and power lines built specifically for the pipeline, light and noise pollution while building it, and human presence in general.

When (not if) leaks occur, direct poisoning of land and water plus additional loss of habitat would further harm wildlife.

Ranchers have already noticed that in areas already affected, the land isn't being properly reclaimed, and invasive species spread.

The power lines deserve a special explanation. A lot of birds fly into them and get electrocuted. Whooping Cranes are particularly at risk due to their size. The power lines would need to be there in order to pump the heavy, sticky tar sands sludge through the pipes.

This is in addition to the destruction in the area of the tar sands mining, and the worsening of the rate of climate change, that the pipeline would enable.

One way that thousands of people are sending the message that, for a whole slew of reasons, building the pipeline is unacceptable, is pledging to get arrested if the pipeline is approved. To sign on to this, go to www.credoaction.com.

For a healthy, diverse planet,

Possum