Kate Sheppard, MJ: A Giant Pipeline [called the Keystone XL] Carrying Dirty Oil From Canada to Texas. What Could Go Wrong?

A Giant Pipeline Carrying Dirty Oil From Canada to Texas. What Could Go Wrong?

by Kate Sheppard, Mother Jones, January-February 2011 issue

Last year was quite a year for oil and gas disasters. In addition to the BP blowout, there was a leak on BP's TransAlaska pipeline, a million-gallon oil spill in Michigan, and a gas explosionthat destroyed 37 homes and killed eight people in California. So it would seem like a lousy time for a Canadian company to propose building a pipeline, the Keystone XL, right through the middle of the continent—especially one that may be unnecessary and that even some oil companies think is overpriced.

Below, click on the interactive map's hot spots to read more about the proposed pipeline route.

Legend:

Illustrated by Karen Minot

UPDATE: Several environmental groups have recently raised concerns about the ties between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the lead lobbyist for the international oil services company TransCanada.

Friends of the Earth, Corporate Ethics International, and the Center for International Environmental Law are seeking a record of all communication between Clinton's office and that of Paul Elliott, who served as the national deputy director in her 2008 campaign and now serves as the director of government relations at TransCanada. The initial Freedom of Information Act request was denied. A new request was submitted in late January.

Clinton raised ire among environmental groups and some senators last fall when she indicatedthat the pipeline was likely be approved despite the fact that the evaluation of the environmental impact of the proposal is still underway.

At the same time, a report that TransCanada released in late January predicted higher prices for Canadian crude in the Midwest—which isn't likely to make the pipeline more popular there.

http://motherjones.com/environment/2011/01/transcanada-keystone-pipeline-map