President Obama Slows the Rush for Dirty Tar Sands Oil

Media Releases

Media Contacts
Nathan Willcox

Environment America

The Obama administration will reassess the proposed route for the Keystone XL pipeline, a proposed 1,700 mile pipeline that would import dirty oil from the tar sands of Alberta.  Environment America Staff Attorney Daniel Gatti issued this statement in response:

“Over the past few weeks, thousands of Americans from all over the country have been taking action to protect our planet from the danger of tar sands oil.  Today’s announcement shows that the Obama administration is listening.  

“The production of oil from tar sands is one of the most ecologically devastating industries ever created.  To get oil from tar sands, oil companies are ripping apart an old growth forest the size of New York and New Jersey combined, emitting massive quantities of global warming pollution and leaving behind a trail of toxic waste, hazardous air pollution, and habitat destruction. 

“The Keystone pipeline would not only encourage the expansion of tar sands production, it would also threaten air and water quality in the United States, including the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides 30 percent of all freshwater irrigation in the United States.  

“Recent studies show that global warming pollution is growing at record levels, threatening catastrophic levels of climate change.  We cannot reduce our global warming emissions while simultaneously deepening our dependence on dirty oil sources like tar sands.  The Obama administration has smartly given itself more time to consider the health and environmental impacts of the pipeline.

“Ultimately we hope the President rejects tar sands oil and continues to focus on the real clean energy solutions that will get us off oil and protect our families’ health.”