U.S. judge halts construction of Keystone XL oil pipeline

[webfact]

U.S. judge halts construction of Keystone XL oil pipeline

By Brendan O'Brien

 

FILE PHOTO: A depot used to store pipes for Transcanada Corp's planned Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen in Gascoyne, North Dakota, January 25, 2017. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester

 

(Reuters) - A federal judge in Montana halted construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline on Thursday on the grounds that the U.S. government did not complete a full analysis of the environmental impact of the TransCanada Corp (TRP.TO) project.

 

The ruling deals a major setback for TransCanada Corp and could possibly delay the construction of the $8 billion, 1,180 mile (1,900 km) pipeline.

 

The ruling is a victory for environmentalists, tribal groups and ranchers who have spent more than a decade fighting against construction of the pipeline that will carry heavy crude to Steele City, Nebraska, from Canada’s oilsands in Alberta.

 

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris' ruling late on Thursday came in a lawsuit that several environmental groups filed against the U.S. government in 2017, soon after President Donald Trump announced a presidential permit for the project.

 

Morris wrote in his ruling that a U.S. State Department environmental analysis "fell short of a 'hard look'" at the cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact on Native American land resources.

 

He also ruled the analysis failed to fully review the effects of the current oil price on the pipeline's viability and did not fully model potential oil spills and offer mitigations measures.

 

In Thursday's ruling, Morris ordered the government to issue a more thorough environmental analysis before the project can move forward.

 

"The Trump administration tried to force this dirty pipeline project on the American people, but they can't ignore the threats it would pose to our clean water, our climate, and our communities," said the Sierra Club, one of the environmental groups involved in the lawsuit.

 

Trump supported building the pipeline, which was rejected by former President Barack Obama in 2015 on environmental concerns relating to emissions that cause climate change.

 

Trump, a Republican, said the project would lower consumer fuel prices, create jobs and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

 

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-09

 

[mcambl61]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Morris wrote in his ruling that a U.S. State Department environmental analysis "fell short of a 'hard look'" at the cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact on Native American land resources.

in other words, an activist judge

[CanuckThai]

This is more about securing cheap oil, than it is environmental issues.  Canadian oil prices are being pummeled/manipulated by American lobbyists.

 

 "Brent oil price, considered the global benchmark, has surged above $85 US per barrel. In the U.S., West Texas Intermediate cruised past $75 US. But in Alberta, Western Canada Select is stuck at $35 US per barrel."

 

Our government (Canadian) has no balls (or ovaries for the pc), nothing to negotiate with, and no one with the acumen to slam the door on oil exports to the US.  Oil terminals on the west coast, would drastically change competitiveness, the pricing shenanigans, and pressure the US behave (a bit).

 

  

[pegman]

6 hours ago, CanuckThai said:

This is more about securing cheap oil, than it is environmental issues.  Canadian oil prices are being pummeled/manipulated by American lobbyists.

 

 "Brent oil price, considered the global benchmark, has surged above $85 US per barrel. In the U.S., West Texas Intermediate cruised past $75 US. But in Alberta, Western Canada Select is stuck at $35 US per barrel."

 

Our government (Canadian) has no balls (or ovaries for the pc), nothing to negotiate with, and no one with the acumen to slam the door on oil exports to the US.  Oil terminals on the west coast, would drastically change competitiveness, the pricing shenanigans, and pressure the US behave (a bit).

 

  

Come on now, the yanks have their own oil to meet their demand with fracking. Ten years ago we might have had some leverage but that's in the distant past. I think it took a big set of brass ones for Young Justin to nationalize TransMountain. What set us back was that useless Harper not getting a single bloody pipeline to tidewater built while in office. That eunuch's refusal to take on crusty Clarke was what put us in this predicament. Young Justin should get it sorted during his next term. 

 

Meanwhile my railway shares have done nicely on this news.

[metisdead]

A disruptive troll post has been removed as well as a reply. 

[manarak]

11 hours ago, mcambl61 said:

in other words, an activist judge

let's hope not.

activist judges of any persuasion are the last thing a justice system needs.

[mcambl61]

39 minutes ago, manarak said:

let's hope not.

activist judges of any persuasion are the last thing a justice system needs.

agreed, but we know the poor record of the liberal judicial appointees

[mtls2005]

On the plus side, it hasn't leaked yet.

[blazes]

Absolute madness.  Only the eco-warrior mob (mostly middle class) living safely in their suburban hideouts all over the US, can afford to "worry" about pipelines in the wide-open spaces of Montana.

As for jobs...let them eat cake...

[mtls2005]

16 minutes ago, blazes said:

Only the eco-warrior mob (mostly middle class) living safely in their suburban hideouts all over the US, can afford to "worry" about pipelines in the wide-open spaces of Montana.

 

Actually not going through Montana now, guess those mobs said nyet?

 

Re-routed east, then south to North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska (not so far from the suburban hideout of Lincoln), Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and the spur through Missouri and Illinois.

 

On the plus side, when it leaks (not if) it will only pollute the aquifer providing drinking water to what, 30 million people.

 

 

[Tug]

Uh o Donalds gonna have a tantrum

[Srikcir]

46 minutes ago, blazes said:

Absolute madness.  Only the eco-warrior mob (mostly middle class) living safely in their suburban hideouts all over the US, can afford to "worry" about pipelines in the wide-open spaces of Montana.

As for jobs...let them eat cake...

American Native Indians and farmers also are against the pipeline.

Their "hideouts" - where they live along the pipeline route.

[Nyezhov]

52 minutes ago, blazes said:

Absolute madness.  Only the eco-warrior mob (mostly middle class) living safely in their suburban hideouts all over the US, can afford to "worry" about pipelines in the wide-open spaces of Montana.

As for jobs...let them eat cake...

Yep. The eco warriors in their SUVs always love the environment somewhere else. Its NIMBY. I had 25 years of it in Alaska. 

[moe666]

1 hour ago, blazes said:

Absolute madness.  Only the eco-warrior mob (mostly middle class) living safely in their suburban hideouts all over the US, can afford to "worry" about pipelines in the wide-open spaces of Montana.

As for jobs...let them eat cake...

This pipe line will only create about 30 or 40 jobs after it is built just a red herring thrown at the sheep who believe anything a repukian says. The oil it is suppose to carry is the worst kind that takes special refining because of the impurities in it. Not something any sane man would want pumped across our country. Plenty of jobs being created in the permian basin, hotel  rooms are 400 dollars a night because of demand in the oil fields of texas. That is where they need pipe lines to move the oil out. Do a bit of research about what is really going on

[neeray]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump, a Republican, said the project would lower consumer fuel prices, create jobs and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

The above seems like a bit of an odd statement to me. Canadian oil is  foreign oil to the US.

[mcambl61]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Actually not going through Montana now, guess those mobs said nyet?

 

Re-routed east, then south to North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska (not so far from the suburban hideout of Lincoln), Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and the spur through Missouri and Illinois.

 

On the plus side, when it leaks (not if) it will only pollute the aquifer providing drinking water to what, 30 million people.

 

 

safest way to transport is via pipeline, then if you also add in the volume of product moved versus rail or tankers and those pesky emissions used, it is even more so, oh those pesky physics. Then add to that the marked improvements in leak detection and corrosion prevention technologies, welding procedure and equipment improvements, even more so. but I am sure you know better. 

 

http://fortune.com/2016/08/28/pipelines-vs-trains-oil-transport/

 

 

[bristolboy]

35 minutes ago, mcambl61 said:

safest way to transport is via pipeline, then if you also add in the volume of product moved versus rail or tankers and those pesky emissions used, it is even more so, oh those pesky physics. Then add to that the marked improvements in leak detection and corrosion prevention technologies, welding procedure and equipment improvements, even more so. but I am sure you know better. 

 

http://fortune.com/2016/08/28/pipelines-vs-trains-oil-transport/

 

 

Escept of course when something actually goes wrong. A pipeline breakage is a diaster. The spill is much bigger.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with why the judge put a halt to it. As per usual, in their zeal, this administration didn't actually bother to follow the law. There's a procedure and stipulations which they massively ignored.

[Nyezhov]

57 minutes ago, mcambl61 said:

safest way to transport is via pipeline, then if you also add in the volume of product moved versus rail or tankers and those pesky emissions used, it is even more so, oh those pesky physics. Then add to that the marked improvements in leak detection and corrosion prevention technologies, welding procedure and equipment improvements, even more so. but I am sure you know better. 

 

http://fortune.com/2016/08/28/pipelines-vs-trains-oil-transport/

 

 

Exactly. Those who speculate about horrible oil spills on properly located and built land pipelines are either ignorant of modern pipeline construction and spill mitigation procedures, or pushing an agenda.

Edited November 10, 2018 by Nyezhov

[sandrabbit]

8 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

safest way to transport is via pipeline, then if you also add in the volume of product moved versus rail or tankers and those pesky emissions used, it is even more so, oh those pesky physics.

So all those pumping stations are powered solar energy?

[Nyezhov]

17 minutes ago, sandrabbit said:

So all those pumping stations are powered solar energy?

No but what difference does that make? Im sure that the 11 stations on the Alaska pipeline use less electricity over the year than Monday, Sunday and Thursday night football ????

 

Using electric to power up Priuses is OK, but pumping stations isnt? Tell that to the folks who use heating oil in the winter, or to the truckers that deliver your eggs and bacon ????

[pegman]

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

Escept of course when something actually goes wrong. A pipeline breakage is a diaster. The spill is much bigger.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with why the judge put a halt to it. As per usual, in their zeal, this administration didn't actually bother to follow the law. There's a procedure and stipulations which they massively ignored.

If the quest is to find the safest way to move tar sands bitumin to the gulf coast refineries there is another way. Solid pucks of the stuff moved by rail. 

 

https://www.oilsandsmagazine.com/news/2017/12/29/piloting-a-safer-crude-by-rail-option

[Thingamabob]

Ridiculous, infantile decision.

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Exactly. Those who speculate about horrible oil spills on properly located and built land pipelines are either ignorant of modern pipeline construction and spill mitigation procedures, or pushing an agenda.

I guess we should number among those ignoramuses ,Transcanade, the builders of the proposed keystone XL pipeline:

 

Keystone Pipeline leaks 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota

 

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/16/us/keystone-pipeline-leak/index.html

[stevenl]

50 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Ridiculous, infantile decision.

Seems an easy straightforward decision: government didn't do a proper due diligence, got caught out. Anything wrong with that?

[Dap]

What a satisfying read.

[JulesMad]

4 hours ago, Tug said:

Uh o Donalds gonna have a tantrum

The more the better  I am waiting for his final last tantrum, the one that makes him implode ????

[Jingthing]

Fantastic decision!
I guess when you add the real and massive BLUE WAVE in the house and this, "trump" and his true believer fans finally got tired of all that winning!

[Nyezhov]

5 hours ago, stevenl said:

Seems an easy straightforward decision: government didn't do a proper due diligence, got caught out. Anything wrong with that?

An appeals court with let us know.

[neeray]

6 hours ago, JulesMad said:

The more the better  I am waiting for his final last tantrum, the one that makes him implode ????

Many of us are waiting anxiously.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.