Even if you dont believe in Climate Change I think we should wisely think about Keystone pipeline and fossil fuel consuption

The Keystone pipeline is a pipeline projected to be built to transport petroleum from regions of Canada that are rich in sand oil {1}. This project was proposed by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P and has been the object of numerous congress bills {see info at congress.org}. Sand oil is sand that deposited millions of years ago, and that contains a form of petroleum (oil). I think keystone pipeline is bad, because it may increase the rate of exploitation of oil sands {2}, and that will be harmful in many ways.

Why extracting Sand oil is bad ? Here are some of teh reasons. If you are "not believing" in "global warming", or you think it is a good thing, read what is between *---* as these pints will affect you anyway.
-*First the vegetation and top soil is removed, as well as surface waters. Besides the obvious obliteration of ecosystems. Not only it wont look pretty, but the flow of water will be affected, and possibly increase risks of floods for example, and reduce agricultural productivity *. This will have other consequences: since the vegetation will be gone for the time of exploitation, CO2  (carbon dioxide) fixation  will occur there, also the topsoil and vegetation may be burned, or left to decay releasing CO2, CH4 (methane), nitrous oxide (by order of greenhouse effect potency) {3}.



- *Second, the water is used to extract the oil from the sand {4}. This water, as well as the air, are contaminated by an array of chemicals - some of them known, some not. Some of this chemicals are present in toxic level to fish and plants {5,6} and among these chemicals, many of them are know toxic for humans for instance heavy metals {7,8} and organic compounds {9}. The used water will be drained into pools, awaiting treatment.  However, experience shows that reservoirs leak, which will release harmful compounds. Even after treatment, these water have negative effects {4}.  Eventually, these chemicals will find their way into wildlife and eventually in the food in the area where the waters will flow (hydrologic basin).*

-* Third, the lands where theses sand are populated with people, that are already affected by the activity {9}. I am afraid that eventually, these people will be forcefully displaced "for the greater good". This has happened in the past too many times. It is not only morally wrong, but may unsettle more than just these people, and their opposition labeled as terrorism (I dont think I need to cite anything here, there are enough living social experiment results in the TV news to support this point).*

- Fourth, by increasing the supply of oil, it may increase carbon emissions. Even if it would not increase consumption, the refining process also will emit large amounts of greenhouse gases {2}.*One of the by-product of the refining process, is piled up right next door to Detroit, Michigan {10}. Also, this by-product (petcoke) burning generates fly ashes that are known to trigger acid rains {11}, which in turn can affect soil pH, therefore agricultural production {12,13}.*

- Fifth, Pipelines leak (again, there is enough examples in the news) these toxic compound will affect the health of the people exposed to it ... Also who will clean up ? Who will pay for it ? USA taxpayer money again (see the news, there is plenty of examples, the industry never pays the real cost - and insurances neither).

As you can see, even if you "dont believe" in global warming, there is plenty of reason to be concerned about the keystone XL pipeline.

1. http://www.centreforenergy.com/FactsStats/MapsCanada/CA-EnergyMap.asp
2. http://priceofoil.org/2013/01/17/petroleum-coke-the-coal-hiding-in-the-tar-sands/
3. Andreae (1991) in Environmental Science and Technology (1995).
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25211339
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23769466
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23746390
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22652822
8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24873895
9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24520827
10.http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/business/energy-environment/mountain-of-petroleum-coke-from-oil-sands-rises-in-detroit.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19423583
12.http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what/
13.http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/educ/acidrain.aspx

Categories:

Leave a Reply