“Hello… It’s me.”

 
While I’m no Adele, it does feel like a long time since I’ve written a column. And there is so much to say!

 
Rarely do I rate things that have nothing to do with my family or camp as more awesome than something camp related. So you know this has to be a special moment.

 
The Keystone XL pipeline is something that I have followed with deep interest for many years.

 
More highlights, pipeline style: Keystone XL is a pipeline that would connect onto the existing pipeline that runs through the United States. Both pipelines would transfer tar sands from Canada to refineries near the Gulf of Mexico.

 
In a January poll for CNN, 57 percent of people said they approved the pipeline while 28 percent opposed it and 15 percent said they were unsure. Being a part of the 28 percent in opposition, the presidential veto came as a major victory.

 
Why?

 
Because there are a few things we know for sure about this proposed pipeline:

 
Point A- Refining all oils can have harsh environmental effects. With the thick tar sands, these can be worse than most.

 
The sands must be diluted for travel through the pipe with dangerous chemicals that are already causing concerns for Canada’s water supply.

 
So… we want to take it through one of the shallowest regions of the Ogallala Aquifer instead?

 
Point B- The project will not create more than 50 long-term jobs for Americans. It probably won’t even create that many. Maybe up to 2,000 short-term construction jobs, although that is a high estimate.

 
Point deux (re, mi?)-The pipeline will eventually leak. And when it does, there is a chance that that leak could be catastrophic for the fragile Sandhills ecosystem, which the pipeline was proposed to run through.

 
There are arguments that even when the pipeline does leak, nature will take care of itself.

 
Look at the Gulf of Mexico and BP, right? I mean, that oil had the whole ocean to disperse into. But when was the last time 21,000 gallons of tar sands and corrosive bitumen made its way into an aquifer with nowhere to dissipate into? Even an aquifer the size of the Ogallala would struggle to recover.

 
While Obama vetoed TransCanada’s request for now, most likely they’ll reapply with the next president in a year or so, after of the election. And while I get wanting to believe that another pipeline will bring America more jobs and more income, that simply isn’t so.

 
North Dakota’s oil rigs have sat idle due to the current low price of oil, with many of the workers there being laid off.

 
It’s simple: Keystone 1 wasn’t a good idea. TransCanada promised it would only leak once in ten years. Then that pipeline had one major leak and 11 minor leaks in its first year of operation.

 
Keystone XL is an even worse idea. It’s an even bigger pipe, which means more oil is being transported. And more oil has the potential for leakage.

 
Keystone XL is supposed to be the most improved, technologically advanced pipeline?

 
So was Keystone 1.

 
“Hello from the other side.”