Washington, DC – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released formal comments to the State Department regarding its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) on the Keystone XL pipeline. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a strong opponent of the pipeline project, released the statement below regarding EPA’s comments:
“EPA’s comments reaffirm the State Department’s finding that: the additional carbon pollution from the Keystone XL pipeline would be equivalent to putting nearly 6 million new cars on the road and would worsen climate change. I’m glad EPA also pointed out that key conclusions in the State Department’s FSEIS about the pipeline’s importance to tar sands development were based on an assumption that oil prices would remain above $75 per barrel. With prices now well below that level, it’s less likely that tar sands oil can be produced in a cost effective manner without the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s within our power to prevent the large-scale production of this dirty fuel that will lead to additional damage to our climate. The bottom line is this project is not in our national interest and I urge Secretary Kerry to deny the project permit.”
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