Despite reports, the Keystone pipeline has not been approved.

[ProSense]

Keystone XL Report by U.S. Avoids Conclusion, Angering Opponents
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-01/keystone-xl-environmental-report-said-to-be-issued-today-by-u-s-.html

Frankly, the way this is being reported and handled is atrocious.

From the WaPo report:

<...>

In a news conference with reporters Friday, Kerri-Ann Jones, the assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, emphasized the department welcomed public comment and had not made any final conclusions about the project.

“We feel that we need to have a public debate,” Jones said.

The president is not likely to make a final decision on TransCanada’s permit application until mid-summer at the earliest. The analysis will be subject to at least 45 days of public comment once it is published next Friday in the Federal Register, and the State Department will have to respond to hundreds of thousands of comments before finalizing its environmental impact statement. The State Department will also have to conduct a separate analysis of whether the project is in the national interest, a question on which eight other agencies will offer input over 90 days.

Jim Murphy, senior counsel for the National Wildlife Federation, said there is no way for Obama to reconcile his commitment to addressing climate change with approval of the pipeline.

“As a practical matter, without access to major U.S. ports from KXL and other routes, tar sands production will be substantially slowed,” Murphy said. “With each major artery to a market that is clogged, the chances of stifling tar sands production greatly increases and investors will only stand behind this fuel for so long and withstand so much market uncertainty and pressure to keep this resource in the ground.”

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/keystone-xl-pipeline-will-not-have-huge-impact-on-climate-draft-analysis-says/2013/03/01/715491b0-82a5-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html

State Department:

State Department Releases Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline

Today, the U.S. Department of State released a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) in response to TransCanada’s May 2012 application for the Keystone XL pipeline that would run from Canada to Nebraska. The document is a draft technical review of potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed Project, including: impacts from construction, impacts from potential spills, impacts related to climate change, and economic impacts. The Draft SEIS is available at: http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/draftseis/index.htm.

A 45-day public comment period will begin when EPA posts the Draft SEIS on its website, a process that generally takes about one week following today’s submission of the document to that agency. Specific instructions about how to submit comments will be provided via the Federal Register and on the State Department Keystone XL website.

After the end of the public comment period, the Department will consider comments received and prepare a Final SEIS. The National Interest Determination period will begin following the release of the Final SEIS, during which time the Department will obtain the views of other agencies about whether to grant or deny the permit.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/03/205548.htm

<...>

After the end of the public comment period, the Department will prepare a Final SEIS.

Ultimately, a determination will be made on whether this project serves the national interest. The national interest determination will involve consideration of many factors, including: energy security; environmental, cultural, and economic impacts; foreign policy; and compliance with relevant federal regulations. As directed by Executive Order 13337, before making such a decision, the Department will also request the views of several agencies and officials, including: the Departments of Defense, Justice, Interior, Commerce, Transportation, Energy, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/documents/organization/205558.pdf

I mean, if no decision has been made, why dump this inconclusive document without giving a heads up so it isn't misinterpreted?





Edited to clarify headline.

[MadHound]

1. To give people a heads up about what's coming,

Let them know there's going to be a comment period and time to organize opposition to it. Keystone XL is a huge deal to a lot of people.

[ProSense]

2. Yes, and

"To give people a heads up about what's coming, Let them know there's going to be a comment period and time to organize opposition to it. Keystone XL is a huge deal to a lot of people."

...that would still be possible without creating the impression that this is a done deal.

[MadHound]

3. There are lots of indications that Keystone is going to go through.

Keystone South is a big one, and the latest is the almost certain nomination of Ernest Moniz as head of the DOE. Read the signs, they're out there.

[ProSense]

4. Well,

"There are lots of indications that Keystone is going to go through."

...let's hope the opposition is loud and effective.

Going back to the point I made in the OP: If no decision has been made, why dump this inconclusive document without giving a heads up so it isn't misinterpreted?

You're suggesting the comment period is charade, which would also mean the claim that the State Department will do a separate analysis is bogus.

[MadHound]

5. Yep, pretty much bogus, going through the motions, but their mind is already made up.

That became pretty obvious when the southern section was green lighted. Why put in the southern half if you're not going to attach the northern half to it?

I'm sure the opposition is going to be loud, but effective is another matter. How many folks out there heard about the tree sitters last year? The media will be complicit in covering up the opposition and it will proceed as planned.

[Agony]

6. How many people heard of Julia Butterfly and Luna? seems like things never change...

Just like with the process of public comment on the NYS Fracking rdSGEIS it was pretty much BOGUS - even after receiving 66,000 public comments the NYS DEC corruptly plows on ahead. I can't see how this will be significantly different. Same damn corrupt agencies/politicians/lobbyists/plutocrats at the federal level...

[Pancho Schneider]

7. The media has given this a pro-Keystone spin

The fact that no conclusion was reached means nothing. Comments are being accepted. Why release a conclusion before getting public comments? That would be disrespectful toward the commenters. State Department is doing the right thing IMO.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

8. +1

The spin is making me sick. See the CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/03/01/keystone-review.html

[Joe Shlabotnik]

9. This reaks of friday night news-dump

never-mind, enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to keep shopping.