Mayors urge oil pipeline OK which would cross the Sand Hills and Ogallala Aquifer

[Omaha Steve]

Ogallala Aquifer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110408/NEWS01/704089815/-1#mayors-urge-pipeline-ok

By Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

Published Friday April 8, 2011

LINCOLN -- More than 60 mayors, including two from Nebraska, have signed a letter urging the U.S. State Department to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which would cross the Sand Hills.

The names of Mayors Rod Norrie of Geneva and Don Groesser of Ralston were among those on the letter, sent Wednesday by a group called America's Energy Forum, which is sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute.

The letter states that the United States can "increase energy security and stimulate economic growth" by building the pipeline, which would oil extracted from Canada's tar-sand fields to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The pipeline would pass near Geneva, which is about 70 miles southwest of Lincoln.

U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., have raised questions about the pipeline route and its possible effects on the groundwater-rich Sand Hills. Earlier this year, 21 Nebraska state senators signed a letter urging a route that avoids the Sand Hills.

The State Department recently announced that it was taking additional public comment on the project before making a decision.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9584, paul.hammelowh.com