preview

State Department Decision On Keystone Xl Pipeline

Better Essays

To: President Barack Obama From: Josephine Parker, independent analyst Date: October 22, 2015 Subject: State Department decision on Keystone XL Pipeline Introduction: This memorandum addresses how the State Department of the United States should handle the pending application of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline is a project under consideration that would provide a 1,664-mile extension to an existing pipeline system built by Canadian company TransCanada. The extension would transport 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day,1 which is about double the United State’s current imports of dirty tar sands.2 The extension would run from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska, where it would connect with an existing pipeline to transport the oil to refineries along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The project is expected to cost about $8 billion dollars.3 Before the TransCanada pipeline extension can begin, the project requires presidential authorization from the U.S. State Department, since the pipeline crosses an international border.2 The stated goal of the pipeline extension is to reduce American dependence on foreign oil by relying on our neighbor, rather than on Arab and Latin American countries, enhance national security, and advance economic development through job creation in pipeline construction. However, there are numerous environmental considerations and ethical concerns surrounding the issue. Though the pipeline may strengthen American security and create jobs in

Get Access