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Resolution in Opposition of the Proposed
Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
WHEREAS,
James Hansen, Director of NASA’s Goddard
Institute and a leading climate scientist,
has stated that opening up the Canadian tar
sands petroleum deposits would make climate
stabilization impossible and signals “game
over” for the climate crisis [1]; and
2. Media Sources
WHEREAS,
according to Platts News & Analysis, the
leading global provider of energy and metals
information, the Environmental Protection
Agency’s assistant administrator for
enforcement and compliance Cynthia Giles has
stated, “If a spill did occur, the potential
for oil to reach groundwater in these areas
is relatively high given shallow water table
depths and the high permeability of the
soils overlying the aquifer” and has urged
the Department of State to extend its review
of TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL
pipeline, arguing that “regulators have not
adequately measured the project's potential
harm to air quality or sensitive areas along
the route.” [2]; and
WHEREAS,
the Alberta tar sands reserves are trapped
under an area of pristine boreal forests and
wetlands covering 4.3 million hectares, an
area roughly the size of Florida, which is
at risk of deforestation, strip mining, and
serious water contamination by heavy metals
and carcinogenic toxins left in tailings
ponds [3]; and
3. State Department
WHEREAS,
the first two draft Environmental Impact
Statements issued by the US State Department
were criticized for significant deficiencies
by the US Environmental Protection Agency;
and
WHEREAS,
the Final Environmental Impact Statement
issued by the US State Department failed to
include any analysis of the pipeline’s
impact during drought conditions in Texas,
despite the fact that Texas is experiencing
the worst 12-month drought on record and
numerous experts, including the Lower
Colorado River Authority’s official
climatologist Bob Rose [4], are projecting
that drought conditions like these may
persist for 10-15 years.
4. Resolution
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,
that Texas Environmental Democrats opposes
the construction of Trans Canada’s proposed
Keystone XL Pipeline Project due to the
consequences the project will have on the
environment, human health, and the State of
Texas; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Texas Environmental Democrats calls on
the US State Department to withdraw its
Final Environmental Impact Statement and
produce another draft which analyzes the
impacts and risks of the proposed Keystone
XL Pipeline Project on Texas lands and
communities during drought conditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that Texas Environmental Democrats calls on
the US State Department to find that the
proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Project is not
in the national interest; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that a copy of this resolution shall be
reported to US State Department staff during
the September 28th hearing scheduled to take
place on the University of Texas at Austin
campus.
5. Sources
[1] James Hansen: Why the Tar Sands
Pipeline Will Be Game Over for Our Planet
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/more-environment-articles/2011/9/7/james-hansen-why-the-tar-sands-pipeline-will-be-game-over-fo.html
[2] Platts News and Analysis
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/6164068
[3] Tar Sands: Indigenous Peoples and the
GIGA Project
http://dirtyoilsands.org/files/IEN_CITSC_Tar_Sands_Info_Sheet.pdf
[4] Statesman:
Austin
About to Set Record for 100-Degree Days
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-about-to-set-record-for-100-degree-1781012.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage
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