Keystone Pipeline Advantages And Disadvantages

Joycelyn Swain
March 4, 2015
BIO 242 A Ecology
Dr. Otienoburu
Keystone XL Pipeline
The Keystone XL pipeline project is a project that aims to reduce the American dependence on oil from Venezuela and the Middle East by forty percent. The construction of this pipeline is vital to the security and economic growth of the United States. The pipeline project is aiming to be a 1,179 mile, 36-inch-diameter crude oil pipeline. This project is a combined effort of the Canadian and American governments. The pipeline is proposed to run from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, USA. In addition to the transportation of crude oil from Canada, the Keystone XL pipeline project is projected to support an increase in crude oil production in the
January 9, 2015 the House of Representatives approved the H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, written by Representative Kevin Cramer (R-ND), which authorizes construction of the project. Then January 29, 2015, Senate approved S.1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act. Finally on February 11, 2015 the House approved S.1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act, which sends the bill approving the pipeline to the president’s desk. After careful consideration, on February 24, 2015, President Obama vetoes S.1, the Keystone Approval Act (Keystone XL:
This project has been under review of President Obama’s administration for more than six years. The Senate had a close vote of 62-37, but did not achieve the required 67 votes to override President Obama’s decision to veto of the bill. Had the Senate been successful at overriding President Obama’s vote, TransCanada would have been able to begin construction of the pipeline. In a message to congress the week prior, President Obama quoted the U.S. State Department as his reasoning to veto the bill and stated that the legislation “conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest—including our security, safety and environment.” In response, before the Senate vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) stated, “Construction of the Keystone pipeline would pump billions into our economy. It would support thousands of jobs. And a bipartisan majority in both the House and Senate voted to support it.” Also before the vote, a democratic leader, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), who opposed overriding President Obama’s decision, stated that, “As we vote, the pipeline’s route through Nebraska is still in doubt. Even if the bill becomes law, the Keystone XL pipeline will not get built anytime soon (“Override of