[OKC] Need More Time to Comment on Tar Sands Pipeline

[Harlan Hentges]

Please ask for more time to comment on the U.S. State Department's
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. 45 days is not enough and they
continue to make it very hard to comment.  U.S. Department of State
<http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/clientsite/keystonexl.nsf?Open> 

 


Keep Your Comments to Yourself
<http://www.organiclawyers.com/blog/property-rights/25-keep-your-comments-to
-yourself.html> 

 

	

On April 22, 2011, the U. S. Department of State released a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
The 400 page document attempts to address problems in the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) issued one year ago. The State
Department has asked for public comments, but it has given only 45 days, and
it is not even providing copies of the document to affected communities.
Follow this link to comment on SEIS and ask for more time. U.S. Department
of State
<http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/clientsite/keystonexl.nsf?Open> 

 

Unfortunately, this seems to be the modus operandi for the State Department.
When it issued the DEIS, it provided Oklahoma with only 17 copies and put
them mostly in the wrong places. Only 6 were sent to libraries along the
pipeline route: Cushing, Prague, Seminole, Ada, Stroud, and Durant. 

 

An additional 5 copies went to libraries within thirty miles of Cushing.
Cushing is the pipeline hub of the United States and the pipeline businesses
are important employers in the area.  People in Cushing and surrounding
areas would be reluctant to comment on the pipeline. Despite this, or
perhaps because of this, the Cushing area got a total of 6 copies. 

 

Of the remaining 6, Alva got 2.  Alva is more than 150 miles from pipeline
construction. Newkirk and Ponca City each got one. Both towns are 70 miles
north of the construction. Perry and Fairfax, both are 40 north of Cushing
got one. Because the new construction begins in Cushing and goes south, the
towns north of Cushing are not directly impacted and citizens there are
unlikely to comment. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, town north of
the pipeline construction got as many copies of the DEIS as the towns near
the pipeline.   

 

South of Cushing are the towns of Holdenville, Wewoka, and Allen. Each town
in within 5 miles of the pipeline route and each has a library. But none of
them got a copy of the DIES. Coal and Atoka counties didn't get a copy of
the DEIS anywhere in the county.  

 

The State Department actions very effectively stifled public comment. Now
the State Department has shown us it could have been worse. It issued the
SEIS and hasn't provided any copies at all.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

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