ALBERTA, Canada - The Keystone XL pipeline will be constructed and operated at a safety level beyond that of any existing crude oil pipeline in the United States, according to the recently released Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Nebraska state agencies, local officials, emergency responders and other stakeholders played a key role in helping to ensure the safest and most environmentally protective route was chosen and the pipeline would be built and operated in a safe and reliable manner, with a focus on protecting the Sand Hills and the Ogallala aquifer.
"We have listened to Nebraskans and have utilized their input to ensure Keystone XL will be built to a safety level not seen before in a pipeline in the United States and that includes selecting the right route, which has been done," said Russ Girling, president and chief executive officer of TransCanada.
Since 2008, the U.S. Department of State has been leading a comprehensive environmental review of all aspects of Keystone XL. The FEIS review was the most detailed and comprehensive environmental review ever undertaken for a cross border pipeline.
In the FEIS, seven alternative routes were studied, including one potential alternative route in Nebraska that would have avoided the entire Sand Hills region and Ogallala aquifer, and six alternatives that would have reduced pipeline mileage crossing the Sand Hills or the aquifer. None of these seven alternatives were preferable to the proposed route as these alternatives would be longer than the proposed route and would disturb more land and cross more water bodies than the proposed route, according to the FEIS. The FEIS further determined these alternative routes would affect substantially more agricultural land, developed land, forested land, rangeland and wetlands.
Keystone XL Route Through Nebraska Deemed Safest Choice
