problems us, canada are encountering with keystone xl
DESCRIPTION
Here is a quick outline of some of the issues that the United States and Canada are encountering when it comes to Keystone XL. The pipeline, which is the fourth phase of the Keystone Pipeline project, would stretch from Alberta all the way to Nebraska. Danny Yehia shares some of the reasons - both politically and environmentally - that the pipeline has been delayed.TRANSCRIPT
A recent article outlined the problems that the Keystone XL pipeline has posed for
both the United States and Canada.
It all stems from the tar sands - located in Alberta, Canada - that contain an
estimated 170 billion barrels of bitumen.
This measures as the 3rd largest oil reserve in the
world.
This reserve produced over $90 billion in gross domestic product for Canada in 2012; this number is expected to
continue rising due to claims by Stephen Harper’s
administration.
His administration has said that it wants to turn Canada into an “international energy
superpower.”
Here is where the aforementioned Keystone XL
pipeline comes into play.
Stretching from Alberta all the way (when completed) to Nebraska, this pipeline has
accounted for numerous protests from Americans.
The pipeline has been delayed several times due to
assessment by the U.S. government on the amount of environmental impact the
pipeline will place on American soil.
There seems to be no end in sight for the deliberations.
The Keystone XL pipeline, which was originally
proposed in 2008, is actually just a portion of the Keystone system.
This system is already over 2,000 miles long, stretching
from Hardisty all the way down to Houston, Texas.
Keystone XL would be the fourth phase of the project.
Jordan Larson, writer for the Pacific Standard, noted that delays in negotiations with the U.S. might be the result
of Canada’s “declining environmental track record
and its international reputation.”
Larson notes that since Harper’s Conservative Party
won a parliamentary majority in 2011, Canada’s emphasis on environmental
science issues quickly declined.
Cuts on funding have undermined environmental
causes throughout the country.
Larson points to research projects such as the Polar Environment Atmospheric
Research Lab (PEARL) that have either ended abruptly
or were turned over to a third-party organization.
The glaring budget bill, C-38, amended a couple dozen
laws that were concerned with environmental
protection and regulation.
Bloomberg investigated some of the issues between
the U.S. and Canada in regards to the Keystone XL
project.
It noted that Canada’s new approach to environmental
issues is causing a controversy between the two
countries, as Obama has particular issues with Canada’s ignorance to
regulate emissions from the pipeline.
As a result, the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has placed two new conditions
on the Keystone XL pipeline.
It is forcing TransCanada (the company constructing
the pipeline) to implement a quality management system.
Also, TransCanada must have a third-party inspection company present at the site,
monitoring its progress.
We’ll see how Canada and the U.S. progress with
Keystone XL.
Canada has already proposed four other pipelines within the
country’s borders - it seems that they’ll be moving forward with their oil
industry whether the U.S. is involved or not.