Keystone XL Pipeline Project Not Beneficial for South Dakotans: Letter

According to the author of the letter, the Keystone project will not provide employment opportunities for the residents of the state, as they would only be temporarily engaged in the construction of the pipeline.

MOSCOW, November 24 (Sputnik) – The Keystone XL pipeline project that would run from the so-called oil sands in Canada through the Dakotas and Nebraska to the refineries in Illinois and Texas would not be beneficial for South Dakotans, a letter published by The Argus Leader daily of South Dakota Monday read.

According to Darla Pokela, the author of the letter, the project will not provide employment opportunities for the residents of the state, as they would only be temporarily engaged in the construction of the pipeline.

Furthermore, no train cars would be provided for the shipment of South Dakotan grain, as they all will carry oil from Canada and North Dakota.

Finally, oil transmitted by the pipeline is not intended to be used domestically in the United States. Instead, it will be shipped to China after being refined in Texas.

The fourth project of the Keystone Pipeline System that delivers oil from Canada to refineries in the southern United States is called Keystone XL Pipeline and is currently awaiting approval by the US government.

Keystone XL has been criticized by environmentalists due to its possible impact on the Sand Hills prairie region in Nebraska.

On November 14, the House of Representatives passed a measure to force the US government's approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, with nearly all votes coming from Republicans. However, an attempt was blocked in the Senate on November 18, when the coalition of Republicans and some moderate Democrats fell just one vote short for the legislation to be approved. The Republicans intend to make a new attempt to pass the measure in January, when the new Congress with the Republicans' majority after the recent mid-term elections is sworn.