Tar sands crude is causing massive environmental degradation in Canada and results in significantly more greenhouse gas emissions claims environmental and native groups who  are challenging

U.S. State Department issuance of a permit for a multibillion-dollar pipeline. The US State Department issued a Presidential Permit to Enbridge Energy, Ltd. for the Alberta Clipper - a 1,000-mile/1,607-kilometer crude oil pipeline that will run between Hardisty, Alberta, and Superior, Wisconsin.  The supply of crude oil from Western Canada oil sands developments expected to grow by as much as 1.8 million barrels per day by 2015.

“The State Department has rubber-stamped a project that will mean more air, water and global warming pollution, particularly in the communities near refineries that will process this dirty oil,” said Earthjustice attorney Sarah Burt. The environmental and native groups point out that “Tar sands development in Alberta is creating an environmental catastrophe, with toxic tailings ponds so large they can be seen from space and plans to strip away the forests and peat lands in an area the size of Florida.”

“In addition,” they argue, “greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands production are three times that of conventional crude oil and it contains 11 times more sulfur and nickel, six times more nitrogen and five times more lead than conventional oil. These toxins are released into the U.S. air and water when the crude oil is processed into fuels by refineries.”

“The tar sands pipeline connects U.S. refiners and consumers with the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive crude oil on earth,” said Kevin Reuther, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy’s legal director.

Many of the groups involved in the coalition also have appealed the U.S. Forest Service over its willingness to allow the pipeline to traverse parts of the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota.

Title: U.S. State Department OKs Pipeline From Canada’s Oil Sands

Source: Environmental News Service: August 21, 2009 (ENS) URL:

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2009/2009-08-21-091.asp

Faculty Evaluator: Elaine Wellin

Sonoma State University

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