Posted on 02/26/2014 12:23:41 PM PST by jazusamo
Sen. Barbara Boxer wants to add a new element to the Keystone XL oil pipeline debate: its effects on health.
The California Democrat claims negative health effects from the proposed pipeline's development were ignored by the State Department's environmental impact review.
"The Environmental Impact Statement was woefully inadequate when it came to exploring human impacts of the pipeline," Boxer said Wednesday at a press conference held with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and anti-Keystone XL activists and environmentalists. She said Keystone will add pollutants to the air that will increase the likelihood of peopel getting cancer or heart disease.
"I do believe the public health impacts are something that average people can really relate to because they know cancer is the second leading cause of death in this country — heart disease is number one -— and all of this filthy air contributes to both of those," she said.
Boxer and Whitehouse will send a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry detailing the health impacts of the pipeline, which they hope he will consider when determining whether Keystone XL is in the nation's best interests.
The State Department is currently in the national determination phase of its review, which lasts for 90 days. While the department's environmental analysis said the pipeline developed by TransCanada would not significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions, Boxer claims more information is needed on the human impacts.
"As tar sands oil flows to our gulf coast refineries it will increase toxic pollution that already plagues communities like Port Arthur Texas, which is near many refineries that will process tar sands," Boxer said.
Boxer said hearings on the topic are a possibility but nothing is set in stone. Her goal is to get President Obama and Kerry's attention.
Advocates of the pipeline say it would not exacerbate pollution and would provide a safer alternative than railcars for transporting crude oil. Those supporting the pipeline, which would carry crude from oil sands in Alberta, Canada, to Gulf refineries, argue opponents are simply trying to delay an already dragged out process.
"Keystone XL clearly passes President Obama's climate test, so opponents are scrambling to find any other way to slow down the process," said Katie Brown, spokeswoman for industry-supported group Oil Sands Fact Check, in a statement.
Boxer made the push one day after fellow Democrat Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) said the Government Accountability Office told him it would probe the process of State's environmental analysis for the pipeline.
A GAO spokesmen said Grijalva's request will go through the normal review process, which takes a few weeks. Boxer mentioned she plans to formally back Grijalva's request to have the GAO conduct an investigation.
Obama recently told governors gathered at the White House that a decision on the $5.4 billion project would be made in "a couple of months."
Because of the the cancer in the middle east do to their pipelines, right...
she said Keystone will add pollutants to the air...
Absolute insanity.
We won’t burn more oil products because of the pipeline.
It will replace oil brought in from farther away locations that consumed more energy to bring them in.
If it isn’t built, the same Canadian oil will be transported still, to farther away locations consuming even more energy, releasing still more pollution.
Insanity. It is why I write environMENTALists.
Any truth to the rumor that Boxer is a pedophile? (As long as we are spreading rumors)
Thanks, I thought I’d read the Keystone crude would replace imported products.
Well she and her Satanic party are a cancer in my book.
Kali’s finest.
Only thing causing cancer in the USA is the Democrat Party and it’s agenda. It’s killing the country little by little and very painfully so.
The “Keystone Cops”: always the same ragtag, bumbling misfits.
Hey, Babs. How about Warren Buffett’s rail crashes and spills? Those OK?
Boxer will cause insanity...
Oil is a cancer to Marxism.
Pray America wakes up
Are there and Democrats who are not shameless demagogues? Like other Democrats, Boxer will say anything she thinks will hook the sheeple
Boxer should focus her attention on the radioactive tsunami headed toward California from Japan.
I’m allergic to stupidity. Just seeing the headline gave me a rash.
Well put, like their idol in the WH they’ll say whatever they think the voters want to hear.
Boxer? I’m disappointed she didn’t try to blame ingrown toenails on Keystone.
I thought Mike Tyson was warning us about cheap beer.
That stupid bitch isn’t fit to run a checkout line at a Walmart(not putting down Walmart cashiers as they are above her), let alone be a US Senator.
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