General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhile America Waits On Keystone Decision, A Different Tar Sands Pipeline Just Got Approved
By Emily Atkin
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While all eyes in America were turned to President Obamas looming decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, Canadian regulators on Thursday approved their own, smaller version a pipeline that would for the first time directly connect Albertas tar sands to Montreal.
Canadas National Energy Board have approved a proposal by Enbridge Inc. to allow the reversal and expansion of their Line 9 pipeline. The reversal means that the pipeline can now carry crude oil east rather than west. The expansion means it can now also carry tar sands oil from Alberta the same type of oil that would be transported by the Keystone XL pipeline if approved...environmentalists say the controversial tar sands oil can now be pumped almost to the New England border. This is because on one side, Enbridges Line 9 connects to a pipeline that carries tar sands. On the other side, Line 9 connects to a 236-mile-long line pump from Montreal to Portland, Maine. The National Resources Defense Council says that Portland connection has been targeted by the tar sands industry as a way for getting the oil into the United States via New England.
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Though environmentalists are decrying the Canadian regulators decision, they also note that Line 9 is, by comparison, small potatoes to other pipelines like Keystone XL. Those bigger pipelines, according to NRDC, will actually drive expansion of the tar sands reserves, causing more harmful carbon to be emitted into the atmosphere. By comparison, the Line 9 expansion has never been viewed by the tar sands industry as playing a role in driving the expansion of tar sands projects, the NRDC says, but is a large and harmful step in the wrong direction.
Todays decision should energize residents of New England to stand up and say unequivocally: We do not want tar sands in our communities and we do not want to play any role in encouraging the tar sands industry to continue with its irresponsible and dangerous development, NRDCs Canada Project Director Danielle Droitsch wrote in a blog post Thursday.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/03/07/3375621/canadian-tar-sands-pipeline-approval/
NRDC:
Approval takes tar sands one step closer to moving through Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, though the tar sands industry will face major obstacles: Because the project will allow transport of tar sands on Line 9, and since Line 9 has a pre-existing linkage with the Montreal-Portland pipeline, the potential exists for tar sands export to Portland, Maine. This option, however, is fraught with serious obstacles for industry including fierce public opposition (including resolutions in a total of 67 communities in New England and Quebec) and concerns raised by local communities and the State of Vermont, which could become a permanent barrier. Additionally, reversal of the Montreal-Portland pipeline would involve a completely separate approval process in Canada and since it crosses the U.S.-Canada border, a Presidential Permit as well.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddroitsch/today_canadas_energy_and_pipel.html
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Xolodno
(6,410 posts)...and didn't have time to read article...who is all this oil going to be sold to?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)ever happen. It needs federal and state approval for the VT piece and Vermonters are aware of this issue and strongly opposed to reversing the flow in that pipeline. And when I say Vermonters, I mean the majority of the legislature as well as the people.
the article pretty much says that.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)MN on this very route about a year and a half ago. I do not know if this is the same pipeline in this article or not.
However from the story it is just another Keystone. There is little difference between the water underground in Nebraska and the water in the Great Lakes. Why are we letting this foreign country run their pipelines through these sensitive areas when we do not even get anything in return? Having said that I will tell you that to those of us living here near the Great Lakes there is not price high enough for this kind of risk.
That's the question I ask myself , too. Infuriating and frustrated. And Canada -- shame on you. (TV ads and print ads -- even in the subway- for Keystone run in my city pretty much 24/7).
cali
(114,904 posts)There is no way this goes through Vermont.
Vermonters are incredibly opposed to this and it's on everyone's radar. Has been for years. I don't think you could find a single dem in the legislature who supports it, let alone in the Shumlin's administration. This is poison here. I don't know if MN has anything like VT's Act 250, but there is no way that the operators of the line get an Act 250 permit.
We just had town meeting. I think 19 towns voted on the issue. All voted against it. (this isn't legally binding just a measure of public sentiment)
Vermont looks the way it does today because of Act 250.
In the spring of 1970, the Vermont legislature passed Act 250, known as the Land Use and Development Act. Development pressures resulting from the opening of two interstate highways (I-89 and I-91) made access to the state much easier for year-round visitors, creating community concerns including road congestion, increased environmental problems, burden on local services, and rising taxes. Governor Deane C. Davis (Republican) appointed a study commission in 1969 to develop a statewide law to address these concerns, as no environmental regulations or land-use controls existed. A major contributor to the construction of the law was Laura G. Wheeler, in consultation with then Vermont Attorney General James Jeffords.
The law created nine District Environmental Commissions to review large-scale development projects using 10 criteria that are designed to safeguard the environment, community life, and aesthetic character of the state. They have the power to issue or deny a permit to real estate developers for any project that encompasses more than 10 acres (40,000 m²), or more than 1 acre (4,000 m²) for towns that do not have permanent zoning and subdivision bylaws. The law also applies to any development project with more than 10 housing units or housing lots; and may also apply for construction proposed above 2,500 feet (760 m) of elevation. Act 250 also created the Vermont Environmental Board to review appeals coming from District Commission rulings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_250_%28Vermont_law%29
jwirr
(39,215 posts)Nothing.
cali
(114,904 posts)by environmentalists.
I live here. I know this state and how it works- and Vermont is NOT MN. You may have elected Paul Wellstone, but MN also elected Michele Bachmann.
Does MN have anything analogous to ACT 250?
jwirr
(39,215 posts)with not protecting the water. Who knows. Much of the line in my area went through the Indian Reservation and the Natives sold the land to the company putting the line through. I do not pretend to understand how this happened. By the way gossip has it that there has already been a spill and it is probably true as I saw workers with heavy equipment and supplies working to dig it up in 20 below weather. That is very unusual for this area.