Tar Sands Pipeline Bigger than Keystone XL & Headed for the Great Lakes

[hue]

Source: Daily Kos

Today's Federal Register contains notice of another major proposed Presidential Pipeline permit action, along with a draft Environmental Impact Statement. Enbridge is proposing to increase the transport capacity of its formerly named "Alberta Clipper" pipeline extending from Hardesty, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin.

Once the Presidential Permit is granted and construction modifications completed on this existing pipeline installed in 2010, crude handling capacity of what is now called "Line 67" will significantly increase.
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According to the FR notice, that line is presently delivering 450,000 to 500,000 barrels per day. Most of this will be synthetic heavy sour crude from Alberta tar sands production.

The proposed Presidential Permit would authorized modifications to the facility allowing an eventual transport rate of 880,000 barrels per day ---- larger than the 830,000 barrels per day for the Keystone XL Pipeline...

The Federal Register notice appears below the fold in its entirety.

Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/15/1194387/-Tar-Sands-Pipeline-Bigger-than-Keystone-XL-Headed-for-the-Great-Lakes

[Dryvinwhileblind]

1. This Tar Sands "Gigaproject" is the largest industrial project in human history...

...and also likely the most destructive. If our Great Lakes system is fouled/ruined by this greed grab, we're soooooo fooked.>>>oilsandstruth.org

[alarimer]

5. That whole area in Alberta is already destroyed

It will never come back. We're digging our own grave.

[Dryvinwhileblind]

6. ^^^^^^THIS, DAMN IT!^^^^^^

[lunasun]

7. One of the biggest fresh water sources I believe

bigger than the one bush and rumsfeld was it ? bought in SA

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Wrenshaw----Hum,who owns that refinery,

two guess's and the answer is----------------Koch Brothers Flint Hill Resources. BTW,Wreshaw is at the end of this pipeline. Dashle and Gephart and friends win again. Mr. President wake TFU!!!!!!!!

[snappyturtle]

3. Here's a link that has a great map of the pipelines in the U.S. and proposed pipelines.

Just click on the map to enlarge.

http://www.rootforce.org/2013/02/04/beyond-keystone-enbridge-preparing-agressive-tar-sands-pipeline-push/

[Berlum]

4. Tar Sands is a freaking Frontal Lobotomy for Mother Earth

[Festivito]

8. Is this all because this kind of crude is not taxed?

I recall hearing on the radio but never reading yet that because this crude, synthetic heavy sour crude, is not refined that there is no taxation schedule for charging it as it crosses through state after state. Therefore, the oil companies want not to refine it first, but to send it to port to be refined after being shipped out of US and out of Canada.

IOW, it's just a way to reduce their taxes, while we all pay the costs of the risks involved in piping it.

Or, IOW,

they'll be stealing our taxes again.

[davidpdx]

9. The Great Tar Sands Lake

sad...........

[annm4peace]

10. there is stuff you can do.

Minnesotans are mobilizing to stop this pipeline and the tar sands. Right now, members of the Red Lake Nation are encamped on top of tar sands
pipelines that cross their lands <http://www.honorearth.org/news/red-lake-tribal-members-occupy-illegal-enbridge-pipeline-their-land>

(join a caravan this Sunday to stand in solidarity <https://www.facebook.com/events/501060619958499/> ), over 200 folks traveled to the Forward on Climate rally in DC last month and thousands more have pledged to commit civil disobedience if the pipeline is approved, by any means.

[annm4peace]

11. MN's DFL Sen Klobuchar says she is voting Yes for the Keystone... help change her mind.

This week we learned that the Keystone XL decision is not just in President Obama's hands. Big oil reps in D.C. have introduced legislation that could force President Obama to approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline through the Senate. We face a tight vote to stop the pipeline and Senator Klobuchar could be a deciding vote.

Join the North Star Energy Coalition, MN350, MoveON.org, Grannies for Peace, Occupy Mpls, Idle No More and other allies for a press event/action outside of Sen. Klobuchar's metro office this Monday, March 18 at 1:30 to deliver the message in person that it's absolutely critical she stand with us against the pipeline. Can you be there on Monday?

The Keystone XL is symbolic of the climate justice movement and has blatantly proven the inexcusable ties between the fossil fuel industry, leaders in Washington and the policies that impact every American. Senator Klobuchar needs to know that Minnesotans are not willing to sacrifice the future of this planet in the name of money, power and status quo. Increased development of the tar sands is "game over" for the climate.

Here are the details:
WHAT: Tell Sen. Klobuchar to stand against Keystone XL at her Minneapolis office
WHEN: 1:30 PM, Monday March 18th
WHERE: 1200 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Spread the word via Facebook! <https://www.facebook.com/events/264330293701504/> (at a link arranged for by MN350)

If you can't make the event, take a moment to give the Senator's office a call to give her the message? 202-224-3244 <http://act.350.org/go/2825?t=2&akid=2813.713339.FBSYhn>

[annm4peace]

12. I talked with a MN activist today

she had pictures from the damage this pipeline has done. she showed the path of the Enbridge Pipeline on a map and it ends up in Superior WI when will be put on ships go to out to China. Lake Superior will become poisoned... and the many rivers it will poison.

She said the tar sands are heavy so if they don't do the clean up of a leak in 2 days it is too late.. the tar sand gunk has sunk down and it's toxic chemicals have already spread in the water.

[annm4peace]

13. from another activist friend

This surprising vote is expected sometime Tuesday-Thursday this week, and approval is likely to pass. They really snuck this through in a flash! Today Obama offered a crumb of $2 billion for clean energy.

To me this seems like the decision we have dreaded: “game over for the planet” as NASA scientist Hanson said. After this, we’ll be doing mock funerals for the planet, blocking bulldozers, and blockading in trees, so creative protests are needed NOW.

[annm4peace]

14. update from a friend at the event

NEWS via Polly: 150 rallied in the cold at Klobuchar’s Monday and it now seems she will NOT vote to approve Keystone XL Pipeline. Nice coalition work! But there will be other votes on this, so keep watching http://Mn350.org/

[karynnj]

15. Great -

I don't know if this is useful, but here is a link to the last time the Republicans tried to vote approval for Keystone. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00034 It failed then - 56 to 42 Looking at the Nos (the good guys) - it looks to me like the changes in the Senate are very slightly in our favor.

Pluses:
Scott Brown was replaced by Warren
Olympia Snowe was replaced by King - possible plus?

Minuses:
Nelson of Nebraska to Fisher (tea party )

Likely will vote the same

Kerry's seat is a wash as Cowan is likely ok - and Markey the likely winner is certainly ok
Kohl to Baldwin is likely a wash
Inoye and Akaka to the 2 new Democrats is likely a wash
Lieberman to Murphy is likely a wash ( on this issue)
Bingaman to Heinrich (a live long environmentalist per wikipedia) is likely a wash

Lugar to Donelly will be a wash - he backs Keystone

So, if we can keep the ones we had (and the replacements indicated) we would have 43 votes to stop it. That is narrow, but could work if WE fillibuster. It is scary that the number computed this way is so close to 41 - the number needed. They need to shift only 2 (or less if I assumed incorrectly on the new Senators.)