“The case for rejection [of Keystone XL] is stronger than ever, with clear evidence the pipeline would 'significantly exacerbate climate change,' now it's up to the president [Obama] to keep his promise on climate and stop the pipeline once and for all,” No Tar Sands campaigner from the Center for Biological Diversity Valerie Love told Sputnik on Wednesday.
The EPA sent a letter to the US State Department, which currently reviews the Keystone XL pipeline project, arguing it will contribute to climate change and will yield little profit under the current oil prices.
“The EPA letter provides President Obama with a more plausible path to ultimately rejecting the pipeline, though I anticipate that the Administration will be patient and let the State Department make its final recommendation,” an associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Energy and Climate Program David Livingston told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“There should be no more doubt that President Obama must reject the proposed pipeline once and for all. The pipeline would threaten our waters, our lands and turbo-charge climate pollution. It’s absolutely not in our national interest,” Droitsch said.
The EPA’s message could not be clearer, Bill Snape, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “If we are going to preserve a healthy, livable climate, it needs to start with rejecting Keystone XL.”
Snape also said that now the ball is in President Obama’s court. “He said he would not approve this disastrous pipeline if it significantly exacerbates the problem of carbon pollution. It is time for him to keep his word.”
The White House has already said it would veto the Keystone XL pipeline bill that is largely supported by the Republican-dominated Congress. Last week, the Senate passed the bill with 62 votes in favor and 26 votes against, and the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the bill next week.
