FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 15, 2011
Contact: Maggie Kao, 202-675-2384
STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASES SLOPPY ANALYSIS OF DIRTY TAR SANDS OIL PIPELINE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of State released a second draft of their analysis on a major dirty energy project, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which would run through the middle of the country, disrupting American farmlands and ranches in six states and threatening millions of Americans’ health and livelihoods.
Despite broad criticism from Congress, other federal agencies and the general public over the State Department’s first draft analysis, it appears that today’s report still falls far short of a sufficient and thorough assessment. The Department also announced the bare minimum amount of time for public comment on the measure.
In response, Kate Colarulli, Associate Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Oil campaign, issued the following statement:
"We are deeply disappointed to see such an inadequate environmental analysis from the State Department. Given the destructive nature and far-reaching effects of that these dirty tar sands would have on our economy, farms in the Heartland, and Americans’ health, we expect more. The American people deserve more.
"Alarmingly, the State Department is moving ahead with the permitting process before the Department of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has completed a thorough, scientific analysis of the chemical composition of tar sands oil, its potential effects on pipeline safety, affected drinking water sources, and the risk of a major oil spill.
"What’s more, the minimal public comment period issued today would mean that the millions of Americans affected by the pipeline would have little time to make their concerns heard.
"We are dismayed that the State Department is rushing forward with this process at the behest of a foreign corporation and despite the fact that there are still critical, outstanding questions that must be answered about the threats this project poses to Americans' health and safety."
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