H.R. 5682, "a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline"

H.R. 5682 grants a regulatory earmark to TransCanada Corporation, effectively exempting TransCanada’s Keystone XL tar sands pipeline from all federal permitting requirements, including requirements that apply to every other construction project in this country.

Tar sands are a dirty, high-polluting fuel. On a life-cycle basis, tar sands crude produces up to 40% more carbon pollution than conventional oil.  Approval of the project would drive expanded production in the tar sands and more carbon pollution.  It would increase our dependence on the dirtiest petroleum product currently available and lock in that dependence for decades.  Even with the current proposed route, leaks from the highly corrosive crude in the pipeline would still threaten the Ogallala aquifer, a critical resource for drinking water and irrigation.

The bill also ignores the ongoing litigation in the State of Nebraska which could affect the proposed pipeline route through the state.  Any potential changes to the route would have to be reflected in an updated Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  H.R. 5682 effectively exempts any route changes from environmental review.