The document discusses the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and debates around its environmental impacts. It would carry oil from Canada's oil sands in Alberta to refineries in the U.S. Supporters argue it will create jobs and increase energy security. However, opponents are concerned about risks of oil spills polluting water supplies and the pipeline encouraging further oil sands development, which has significant greenhouse gas emissions. The document examines both sides and ultimately concludes the environmental risks outweigh the economic benefits.

1. THE XL KEYSTONE PIPELINE
AND THE EFFECTS IT HAS ON
THE ENVIRONMENT
Melody N. Williams
Bryant and Stratton College

2. THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE

3. HYPOTHESIS
While the keystone pipeline might seem like a great idea to some; to others, it may seem harmful to
our society putting the U.S in a financial deficit. Creating more harm then good to the environment.
Will the keystone pipeline really create a great amount of jobs? Or will it be just another problem
added on to the numerous problems the United states already have.

4. OBJECTIVE
1. Educate you on the XL Keystone pipeline and what it does
2. Identify the benefits and/or how it can harm our society as a whole.
3. Explain those for or against the keystone pipeline.

5. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1. Will the Keystone pipeline create jobs?
2. Will the Keystone pipeline be harmful to the environment?
3. Can the Keystone pipeline limit some of the Greenhouse gases?

6. WHAT IS THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE?
• The Keystone pipeline network carries oil from Canada into the United States. There are several existing
segments of the pipeline, extending south from Alberta, Canada and across the U.S./Canada border to
terminals in Illinois, Nebraska and Oklahoma. (Lallanilla, n.d.).
• The Keystone oil pipeline system is designed to carry up to 830,000 barrels of petroleum per day
from the oil sands of boreal forests in western Canada to oil refineries and ports on the Gulf
Coast.(Koffler,2013).
• The Canadian company TransCanada initially proposed the pipeline in 2005 and applied to the State
Department for a construction permit in 2008. .(Koffler,2013).

7. WHY IS THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE A SUBJECT
OF POLITICAL DEBATE?
• Environmentalists oppose the project because it would create a conduit to market for petroleum
extracted from the Alberta oil sands.
• unconventional energy source requiring far more fuel, water and carbon emissions to extract than
conventional oil and gas.
• Keystone XL could help cut US reliance on Mideast and Venezuelan imports “by up to 40 percent.” He
cites a 2010 US Department of Energy study that he contends says more Canadian oil would “help
reduce US imports of foreign oil from sources outside of North America.”(Clayton,2012).

8. WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF
THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE?
• The Keystone could create tens of thousands of jobs. As you’ve probably noticed, the economy
needs jobs, and so does a president who can’t seem to create very many of them.
• Democratic advocates of the keystone pipeline believe it is in America best interest to import
oil from Canada than other middle eastern countries.
• “Keystone will bring energy security to the United States during what has been recently some
very unsettling times overseas Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada’s president for energy and oil
pipelines, said in a congressional hearing in December.”(Clayton,2012).

9. KEYSTONE PIPELINE PROTEST
(thinkprogress.org, 2011)

10. WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF
THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE?
(CONT’D)
• Democratic advocates believe that rejecting the keystone pipeline will deal a tremendous blow to
the Alberta oil sands, significantly reducing Alberta oil production, which they believe will
reduce greenhouse gases to the benefit of the environment.
• The advocates also believe that the likelihood of a spill is reduced if traveled through pipelines as
opposed to trucks and tankers. And the pipeline ensures that less fuel will be used in transport;
which is all good for the environment
as opposed to tankers and other modes of transportation, and then a pipeline ensures that less fuel will be consumed in transport; all of this good for the environment.

11. DISADVANTAGES OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE.
• The Keystone XL extension could place the water contained in the Ogallala Reservoir at risk of
pollution, thereby potentially affecting the water supply of millions of consumers.
• According to a report from Cornell University's Global Labor Institute, in 2010 American
pipeline accidents cost $1 billion in repairs, released more than 170,000 barrels of oil into the
environment, and resulted in the deaths of twenty-two oil industry workers.
• The State Department has found that the existing Keystone pipeline has already failed 14 times
since it began operations in 2010 -- one of those leaks dumped 21,000 gallons of crude oil -- and
the new Keystone XL pipeline could be reasonably expected to fail about two times a year each
year of operation. (Lallanilla, n.d.).

12. DISADVANTAGES OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE.
(CONT’D)
• The National Resources Defense Council released a study further indicating that the Keystone
expansion would be more likely to suffer spills than conventional pipelines because the
Keystone pipeline carries bitumen slurry, which is heavier and has a higher proportion of solid
material than conventional oil.
• “Millions of Americans will spend 10 to 20 cents more per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel as
tribute to our ‘friendly’ neighbors to the north,” the highly respected Dr. Verleger wrote. “The
Keystone XL pipeline will move production from Canadian oil sands to a Deepwater port from
where it can be exported.” (Clayton,2012)

13. KEYSTONE PIPELINE JOB
• The keystone pipeline is only guaranteeing 32 permanent jobs. Which is not a lot considering the
risk that are being taken. As well as the amount of money being used to fund the keystone
pipeline
• A 2011 report from Cornell University's Global Labor Institute indicates that the vast majority of
jobs will be temporary and that of TransCanada's $7 billion budget, only $3 billion will affect US
jobs figures, thereby translating into fewer employment opportunities

14. ALBERTA PIPELINE BURST

15. SUMMARY
• Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the keystone pipeline. I am not for the
keystone pipeline considering the large amount of risk being taken.
• As a citizen living in the united states to which this pipeline will effect the most. The benefits of
the pipeline is not worth the risk that are being taken. The keystone pipeline can put the U.S in
financial deficit which we’ve already experience.
• The keystone pipeline is also a threat to our environment if a spill was to occur the clean up
would be expensive. The keystone pipeline at this moment is not beneficial enough or worth the
risk to give it a chance.

16. THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE ENVIRONMENT
IMPACT
Image: Photo. Retrieved
from
http://www.bing.com/imag
es/search?q=Keystone+Pip
eline+negative+impact+gra
ph

17. REFERENCES
Issitt, M. (2015). Counterpoint: The Keystone Pipeline Poses an Unacceptable Risk to the
Environment and Will Not Provide Sufficient Economic Benefit. Points Of View:
Keystone Pipeline, 1. http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=81de9179-9151-
4731-bb48-
1c1a3403fe10%40sessionmgr4001&vid=8&hid=4213&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpd
mU%3d#db=pwh&AN=84783231
Koffler, K. (March,2015) http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2013/03/15/reasons-obama-
approve-keystone-pipeline/
Keystone XL Pipeline Benefits U.S. And Canada, Alberta Premier Says. (2015). Morning
Edition (NPR), http://www.npr.org/2015/02/04/383724544/keystone-xl-pipeline-benefits-
u-s-and-canada-alberta-premier-says

18. REFERENCES
(CONT’D)
Lallanilla, M.(n.d.).Retrieved from
http://greenliving.about.com/od/scienceandtechnology/a/Keystone-Pipeline.htm
Image: Photo. Retrieved from
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Keystone+Pipeline+negative+impact+graph
Dickinson, T. (2015). CANADA'S CRUDE AWAKENING. Rolling Stone, (1230), 32.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/crude-awakening-how-the-keystone-veto-dashes-canadas-
superpower-dreams-20150224
Clayton, M. (2012). http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46689167/ns/us_news-christian_science_monitor/t/how-
much-would-keystone-pipeline-help-us-consumers/