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Anyone who has read much of what I have written publicly has come across my writings about my Love of Nature and my concern about this planet, Earth, which is the foundation of writing this blog post.
I am really, really, really concerned about the development of the Tar Sands Oil in Canada and I have been reading about it on and off for years ... and with recent events I went back to reading about it - including some Science articles, all of which I will link to at the end.
Personally, after reading multiple articles from the NRDC to Scientific American to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicines - and information concerning the Ogallala Acquifer - I am firmly and irrevocably opposed to such pipelines as the Keystone XL (Tar Sands) and the Dakota Access (Fracked Oil).
I am on the email list for 350.org - and I would like to quote from an email I got from Duncan Meisel at 350.org on Jan. 25th, 2017 (along with a lot of other people on their email list), because of the truths in it, which I think everyone should know!
Quote:
Here's what you need to know about Trump's actions on Tuesday:
- He did *not* approve Keystone XL or Dakota Access. He briefly succeeded in confusing a lot of people on this point (including me, I will admit).
- On Dakota Access, he told the Army Corps of Engineers that the pipeline is in our "national interest" and told them to "consider" revoking the environmental review placed on it by the Obama Administration.
- On Keystone XL, he invited TransCanada to re-apply and if they do, mandated a final decision on the pipeline within 60 days and waived input from environmental agencies.
- And when TransCanada does re-apply, they no longer have permits in Nebraska, and their permits in South Dakota are being challenged.
- Trump also placed conditions on approval of the pipelines -- like limiting oil exports, and determining where the steel comes from -- that the oil companies might not accept.
I also think people should speak up, which is why I am writing this blog post.
I also, based on years of experiences, am firmly aware that there will be differences between people.
I am actually opposed not only to the "Tar Sands Pipelines" - you see, based on the facts I have read about the Extraction of Tar Sands and the Risks of doing it including, it looks like to me, huge destruction to an Ecologically Significant Boreal Forest Ecosystem in Canada - as well as disruption of critical carbon reservoirs and release of all kinds of greenhouse emissions in developing oil from the tar sands -- I think, in terms of both short term and long term evaluation, it would be much better to just leave the Tar Sands in the forest!!!
( Reference: Page 5 of https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/tarsandssafetyrisks.pdf )
And I read several different references concerning the Risks of Tar Sands Pipeline and their leaking, which is very likely apparently as every one built and put into service to this date seems to have leaks and accidents in excess of what the company running them estimates.
I am familiar with the Kalamazoo River area in Michigan where the 2010 Tar Sands Oil Spill occurred - and was horrified about it.
How many Tar Sands Oil Spills, which are poisonous, can we endure???
Also - both the Keystone XL Pipeline and Dakota Access Pipeline go through areas over the Ogallala Acquifer - a huge source of water for our USA High Plains - and even though there are differing opinions on how Oil Pipeline leaks might get into and pollute the Ogallala Acquifer and how much of it would be affected - I sincerely doubt we should take the risk. Remember ---
"Once depleted, the aquifer will take over 6,000 years to replenish naturally through rainfall" --- Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer
So -- lets encourage growth of Solar and Wind as Energy Sources.
Lets leave the Tar Sands in Canada in the ground and stop destruction to Canada's Boreal Forest -- and no more Tar Sands Pipelines - especially like the Keystone XL - or Fracked Oil Pipelines like the Dakota Access - running through the Heartland of the USA.
References:
NoKXL NoDAPL Pipeline Pledge - Join the Pledge of Resistance:
Tar Sands Pipelines Safety Risks:
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/tarsandssafetyrisks.pdf
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/tarsandssafetyrisks.pdf
NRDC Report: Keystone XL Pipeline more of an economic liability than benefit:
Scientific American - How Much Will Tar Sands Oil Add To Global Warming:
Scientific American - The Ogallala Acquifer: Saving a Vital U.S. Water Source:
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicines Project Pipeline Transportation of Diluted Bitumen:
Wikipedia - The Ogallala Acquifer:
