Keystone Pipeline Research Paper

Pipeline transport entails the movement of goods from on point to another through a pipe. Various chemically stable liquids and gases are transported through a pipeline. Primarily, pipelines are used to move crude and refined petroleum including oil, natural gas, and bio-fuels. Pipelines also move beer, water, slurry and sewerage. Construction of oil pipelines has often been a subject of great concern to many people. key concerns are often related to environmental and economic impacts of the pipeline. One such pipeline that has generated much controversy is in North America (Avery 97). The proposed pipeline system that will originate in Canada and run through to the U.S is referred to as the Keystone pipeline (O’Hara 3). The pipeline runs …show more content…
The north Alberta region that has been marked out for extraction is home to many indigenous populations. The tar sand operations will cause destruction of cultural traditions and will alter livelihoods (Isenberg 428).Aside from the loss of land, the polluted water from the ponds would seep into water sources. As a result, the people will begin to develop renal failure, lupus and hyperthyroidism including other rare cancers. Extreme weather conditions that will result from the burning of the fossils fuels are likely to cause massive economic strain especially among the low-level earners (Girard …show more content…
Therefore, there is the risk of environmental pollution in case of a spill into water sources or human settlements. Additionally, spills from the pipeline would be riskier than that from conventional oil. The oil is heavier, and it thus sinks as opposed to floating. Refining of tar sands oil is much more emissions of the toxic substances such as sulphur dioxide and nitrous dioxide. The emissions catalyse global warming, cause respiratory diseases such as asthma and may hinder visibility. The negative environmental impacts outweigh the economic gains that the construction of the pipeline would bring. In addition, promoting extraction of fossil fuels limits investments in clean, safe and affordable alternatives to oil. If the temperature of the earth was to rise with around 2 degrees Celsius, there would be catastrophic environmental changes including melting of polar glaciers, rise in sea levels, tornados, hurricanes, floods and heat waves (Hiscock 219).Environmental impacts of such magnitude would cause loss of employment and