New Keystone XL Investigation

 Posted by at 12:01 am  Politics
Nov 082011
 

Like so many of you, I have fully supported the demonstrators who have opposed the Keystone XL Pipeline.  Their efforts have won a reprieve for the earth, as they have publicized the corruption in the review process and corporate lies about the jobs the project will create.

8keystoneThe State Department’s inspector general has agreed to do a “special review” of whether the department’s analysis of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline project has been done properly.

Deputy IG Harold Geisel — the highest-ranking official in the department’s IG office — will look into the matter amid allegations of bias, influence peddling and conflicts of interest raised by environmental activists and more than a dozen congressional Democrats.

In a memo Friday to Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Geisel said he will grant a request from 14 members of Congress to conduct a review.

One of those members, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), said in a statement Monday that he appreciates Geisel’s “willingness to treat this important matter, and the allegations of conflicts of interest, with the seriousness it deserves.”

“This is a critically important issue for our environment and the energy future of our country,” added Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats. “At a time when all credible scientific evidence and opinion indicate that we are losing the battle against global warming, it is imperative that we have objective environmental assessments of major carbon-dependent energy projects.”

Geisel’s memo, which was obtained by POLITICO, said the “special review” will aim “to determine to what extent the Department and all other parties involved complied with Federal laws and regulations relating to the Keystone XL pipeline permit process.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Politico>

Keith Olbermann covers the investigation, the corruption, and the lies about jobs with Bill McKibben on Countdown.

We all owe thanks to the demonstrators and the Democrats who stood for the earth.

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  10 Responses to “New Keystone XL Investigation”

  1. Are we taking bets on how the results of the investigation will turn? I know where I am placing my sniveling bet at. This administration when it comes to the environment has thus far talked a good game but gotten nothing  completed. If they feel they have to have a refinery for tar sands then let them build that shit in Canada. All produced oil goes to bid at the same place (the commodities market) no matter where it is refined at. That pipeline to Koch Industries in Texas is wholly unnecessary.

  2. More corruption being exposed ?

  3. I agree with you TMW – there’s a lot of investment already made to propel this along regardless of the “investigations” that put procrastinating obstacles in the way! So a few explosions happen and a few deaths that are the “sacrifices” for the advancement of energy! Hell – when they start fracking in NY they’ll place in jeopardy the health and lives of the 16 million dependents on the water of the Delaware River Basin for bathing, cooking and drinking – not to mention the destruction of parks and environment, wildlife and infra-structure as well using millions of gallons of river water for drilling purposes (that’s about 8 million gals. per well) taken from our rivers and polluted beyond our ability to dispose of the waste safely! It’s greed! The bushies deregulated the industry enough to create a thousand loopholes! Here in NY they’re planning on a similar pipe line to come into the city, there’s a refinery being built in Queens and a fleet of buses dependent on natural gas – and an advertising campaign that is almost daunting in expense to argue the points of disagreement that natural gas is greener than fossil fuel – even on MSNBC they’re totally bought out by the natural gas industry! Makes Maddow so much harder to watch!! Health impact statements are of no value under current regulations, none of them can be believed – nor does law require honesty!

    • Lee, I don’t like MSNBC’s fracking adds either, but to Rachel’s credit, she has done several pieces against it and in support of the demonstrators.

  4. Hillary Clinton is the Secretary of State, and ultimately this falls under her jurisdiction, right?  But is this also the area that was stacked to the gunnels with Republican/Teabagger bureaucrats before Baby Bush took his leave?  I ask these questions because I’m try to assess where responsibility lies.  Ultimately, responsibility lies with Mr Obama, but . . .

    I have more questions than anything, and maybe that is because I am an auditor, or at least was, and as such I understand the need for clear areas of responsibility, accountability, and processes that don’t allow one person sole access or decision-making ability on a project of this import.

    I believe that Keith Olbermann said there was one 20 something employee doing most of the work.  Did this person have approval ability or did they report up the line?  If this is the case, why only one employee?  Did someone choose an eager beaver that wanted to make their mark, and with such zeal failed to ask appropriate questions, or perhaps lacked the experience to understand that TranCanada ordering the environmental study is like asking a cat to watch the fresh salmon on the kitchen counter while you go out for a while?

    In any case, with the tar sands sludge going to a Kock refinery in Texas, I think it is safe to assume that the Kochs, more than anybody, are orchestrating this whole mess.  It is great to see that people are being forceful about this project because it is not good business.  I thought it was telling when McKibben said that this project actually has negative job growth.  Mr Obama must stand up and say an emphatic “No!” to the Keystone XL pipeline and redirect resources to renewable clean energy.  Ultimately, that will be the only way to get away from the dependence on foreign oil and give the planet a fighting chance at the same time.

    Kudos to that sweet man, Bernie Sanders, and the other Democrats that spoke out.

     

     

    • Lynn, all your assumptions are correct here.  Hillary is in charge.  State, and many key agencies and departments, are loaded with Bush Regime political appointees that burrowed in to career positions when he was on the way out.  The one guy who worked on it had to report up the line, but it was likely a series of rubber stamps.

      Want me to watch your salmon? 😉

      • Ha!  I’m not a salmon fan.  I’ll eat it if someone else cooks it (I don’t do sushi).  My step-father used to stuff it like a turkey and bake it.  Oh that was wonderful.  I think being the cat you are, you would have liked that!

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