NRDC: Senators Should Oppose Bill Forcing Approval of Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–November 13, 2014 – The lame duck Senate soon may consider a bill forcing approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, thus overriding presidential authority. The following is a statement from Danielle Droitsch, director of the Canada Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“This tar sands oil pipeline was a bad idea before the election, and it remains a bad idea—a very bad idea. The pipeline would mean that more of the world’s dirtiest oil flows through the United States, threatening water supplies.  And burning the additional tar sands oil would needlessly worsen climate change. 

“The Congress is not set up to be a permitting authority, and this pipeline doesn’t even have an approved route. The ongoing review process should continue, and the decades-long precedent of having the Executive Branch make decisions on cross-border projects should not be overturned.’’

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.