Keystone Pipeline Analysis

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The Department of State and other Federal and State agencies have conducted extensive analysis of the technical and environmental impacts of the pipeline and have found it to be the most efficient and environmentally effective means of oil transport between Canada and the United States. The Department of State found that incremental life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the pipeline are estimated in the range of 0.07 to 0.83 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, with the upper end of this range representing twelve one-thousandths of one percent of the 6,702 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted in the United States in 2011. In comparison with railway transport scenarios, an increased volume of train transport would result in greenhouse gas emissions from both diesel fuel combustion and electricity generation to support rail terminal operations, which would total to a range of 28-42% greater than the greenhouse gas emissions …show more content…
Seeding, erosion control fabric, and other erosion control measures would be installed, as specified in the CMRP and permit documents. The proposed pipeline will cross aquifers such as the Northern High Plains Aquifer and the Great Plains Aquifer, and modeling indicates that aquifer characteristics would inhibit the spread of released oil, and impacts from a release on water quality would be limited. Keystone has also made route modifications to avoid wetland areas such as the Sand Hills Region, in response to environmental analysis completed by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Consultation and coordination with the

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