Keystone Pipeline Pros And Cons

Keystone Pipeline The Keystone Pipeline, also known as Keystone XL, is a 1,179-mile-long pipeline from oil fields in Western Canada to the Midwestern United States. Specifically, this pipeline will extend from Alberta, Canada to Steele City, Nebraska with plans to link to an existing pipeline that reaches to the Gulf Coast. Despite the advantages this pipeline will produce, it will also create various negative effects regarding wildlife and inhabitants of these areas, economic and political issues, as well as challenge government policies and regulations. Just as any pipeline would, Keystone XL risks spillage. This could cause significant effects on the surrounding environments in the path of the pipeline. With the ecosystem of Steele City,
Nebraska already being fragile, it could pose serious threats to the wildlife. Environment Canada, which is a department responsible for creating and coordinating environmental policies and regulations as well as preserving nature and renewable sources, says it has found chemicals seeping into the ground water and a nearby river. These chemicals and construction of the pipeline could harm wildlife through species displacement, increased predation rates, increased wildfire risks and could potentially lower wildlife density in the areas affected by the Keystone XL. A controversial issue regarding the manufacturing of the pipeline is the increase in climate change, a vital topic that has led he 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, to veto the construction of the pipeline. With threats to surrounding wildlife and residents, Keystone XL produces an array negative effects in the areas it will traverse. The former president, Barack Obama, has argued that the creation of the pipeline would not lower petrol prices, create long term jobs or affect energy dependence. President Donald trump disagrees. With the formation of nearly 28,000 construction jobs needed to complete the pipeline as well as the jobs that will need to be made necessary to maintain and oversee the pipeline will allow people to receive and obtain long term jobs. Donald Trump also has pushed to use American made materials throughout the duration of the construction of the pipeline. Also, having an oil pipeline through the center of the country will allow the United States to depend less on the oil monopolies found in Middle Eastern countries. Along with economic issues, Keystone XL faces political issues. The political component of the construction of the pipeline is far more subjective than the economic or environmental impact. The two dominant parties, Republicans and Democrats, have different views regarding the pipeline. As Barack Obama vetoed the Keystone Pipeline and with Donald Trump signing executive orders to put it under construction has caused political controversy within the Country. TransCanada and the U.S. State Department have been working together to persuade safety standards regarding the Keystone Pipeline. Reportedly, there are 57 conditions set by federal regulation agencies that need to be met. Both TransCanada and the U.S. State Department have argued that these conditions are beyond the industry norm. These requirements are set to be more strict than existing regulations to increase and guarantee safety through the construction of the pipeline. Keystone XL faces numerous conditions that could potentially impact this project. Overall, the construction of Keystone XL has multiple obstacles to overcome in order for it to be a worthwhile project. These obstacles include the effects of wildlife in surrounding areas, an assortment of economic, political, social, and technical issues, in addition to government policies and regulations.

Citations
“Keystone XL Pipeline: Why Is It so Disputed?” BBC News, BBC, 24 Jan. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30103078.
Nikolewsk, Rob. “The Party Politics of the Keystone XL Pipeline.” Newsmax, Newsmax Inc. Newsmax Inc., 4 Feb. 2015, www.newsmax.com/US/Keystone-XL-pipeline-Obama-politics/2015/02/04/id/622808/.