Hundreds attend pipeline hearing
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By Louisa Barber
Sidney Herald
A crowd of about 500, mostly proponents, testified before a U.S. State Department representative on the controversial TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline Tuesday evening.
The State Department held hearings last week in states where the 1,660-mile pipeline will cross to determine whether issuing a Presidential Permit is of national interest.
The Glendive hearing attracted union workers and laborers in favor of the 20,000 proposed jobs TransCanada says the project will bring and many who touted energy security.
Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey, representing two counties directly affected by the pipeline, was among those speaking in support of the project. “We’re sitting right here, right now with the greatest potential for natural resource development that there is, so we can be dependent only on ourselves for our natural resources that we need to fuel this economy,” he said, advocating the nation’s energy independence. “Not only would this be a good situation for our people up in this neck of the woods but every other state as well. But more importantly, it would help give us energy independence so that we’re not sending our money to foreign regimes that are fighting the United States of America.”
For five hours, the presiding officer for the State Department, Jim Steele, heard repeated arguments from at least 119 speakers on the importance of jobs and energy independence. Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser spoke in favor of the pipeline. “Our country needs independence. It needs energy independence,” he said. The nation also needs jobs and the increased revenue base, he said. “There’s a lot of talk about going green and the need to have green energy. Of course, we’re all working to that end, but that end isn’t here. Today TransCanada offers us oil that we don’t have to worry about that is available.”
Among those lending support for the project was Gov. Brian Schweitzer, U.S. Congressman Denny Rehberg; Billings Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Economic Development in Billings, Montana Petroleum Association, Richland County, and Prairie, Roosevelt, Fallon, Custer, Phillips, Valley, Blaine, Carbon and McCone counties.
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McCone County Commissioner Janet Wolff said in her testimony that TransCanada has been good to work with as she and family meet with officials on the easements where the pipeline will cross her land. The majority of McCone residents, she said, support the project.
Landowner Tom Wilson, Buffalo, S.D., whose land will be in the pipeline’s path, said company officials have been courteous. But other landowners disagreed, saying the pipeline company issued easement contracts that were “the worst you’ve ever seen.”
While some questioned the validity in the belief that oil shipped from Alberta, Canada, would be used by the United States and instead privately sold to the highest bidder, others said the Canadian company can promise there won’t be any ruptures but “that means nothing,” and it hasn’t shown the ability it can clean up a spill. Other opponents said Alberta land subjected to oil drilling can never be reclaimed.
Margie Kidder, a Livingston resident and Canadian actress, questioned how many jobs would actually be created by the project, suggesting that only 10-15 percent of jobs would be local. “I am appalled at the lies that are being told and the hopes that are being raised by the TransCanada pipeline company...to sell the Keystone pipeline to Americans who are suffering terrible unemployment and real hardships during this time,” she said.
The proposed Keystone XL pipeline could transport up to 830,000 barrels per day, 65,000 of which could come from Montana. An estimated 20,000 jobs would be created over the life of the pipeline and $5 billion in property taxes ($60 million annually ) for the state. If permitted, it would begin operation in 2013. The State Department issued in August a Final Environmental Impact Statement which found no “significant” environmental impacts.
In an interview with Consul General Dale Eisler representing the Canadian government, Eisler said the government “fully respects” the environmental review process and believes the pipeline is a testament to the U.S-Canada relationship. Canada is America’s largest energy supplier. Allowing for on-ramp access for local producers is critical, he said, for the Bakken region.
Asked if Canada will give its extensive oil resources to the Chinese if the United States rejects the Keystone XL, Eisler said only that the country wants to diversify its markets, and with increased demand for oil worldwide, the the product will go where demand sees fit.
“Obviously the U.S. is our most important market, and we think it makes perfect sense for this pipeline to go forward,” he said.
reporter@sidneyherald.com