Dear Friend,
I just sent comments to the Obama Administration urging a more thorough
review of the environmental impacts of the Keystone XL pipeline. I hope
you will read the alert from the National Audubon Society below and
join me in taking action.
AUDUBON ACTION ALERT
The State Department recently released a draft environmental review of
the Keystone XL pipeline plan, citing little environmental impact.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The review is woefully inadequate, ignoring the massive
impacts from tar sands operations in Canada that are destroying
millions of acres of boreal forest so important to many of our
songbirds. The report further finds that building the pipeline will
have little impact on climate change--even though the pipeline
would increase emissions so much it would be like adding 4.6 million
cars to the roads.
Now, alarming reports are coming from Arkansas on a pipeline break
that is releasing thousands of barrels of this same kind of thick,
dirty oil into waterways that feed nearby Lake Conway and the town of
Mayflower, AR. Oiled birds and other wildlife in the area are being
treated, with many more expected to succumb to the toxic oil. The
Arkansas incident is the second spill of Canadian tar sands oil in a
week. On March 27, a mile-long Canadian Pacific train hauling Canadian
crude derailed in Minnesota, spilling 30,000 gallons about 150 miles
northwest of Minneapolis. These two incidents are a stark
reminder that transporting this oil across the U.S. is just asking for
trouble.
**Take Action**
Submit your comments now on this draft environmental review. Comments
are due April 22. It's critical that we challenge the weaknesses in
this draft with respect to impacts on wildlife, habitat, water quality,
and climate change:
http://www.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&... FROM FOREST TO WASTELAND
The Keystone XL pipeline would drive the expansion of tar
sands development in Canada, which is turning vital bird habitat in
the boreal forests into an industrial wasteland of open-pit mines,
smokestacks, and toxic waste ponds.
In addition, Keystone would accelerate the global climate
crisis. In a May 2012 op-ed in The New York Times, NASA climate
scientist James Hansen wrote regarding Alberta oil sands extraction,
"If Canada proceeds, and we do nothing, it will be game over for
the climate." He argued, "We need to start reducing
emissions significantly, not create new ways to increase them."
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO ACT
Fortunately, the environmental review is still in draft
form. We have an opportunity right now to make sure the harmful
effects from tar sands development on birds, habitat, and climate
change are included in the final review, before President Obama makes
his ultimate decision on whether to allow the Keystone XL pipeline to
be built. Comments are due by April 22.
**Take Action**
Send in your comments today. We need to be sure this environmental
review tells the whole story of the Keystone XL pipeline and the great
damage it will cause to birds, wildlife and habitat, and our efforts
to curb climate change:
http://www.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&... Sincerely,
Mike Daulton
Vice President, Government Relations
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Audubon
1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036
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