American animals endangered by Keystone XL pipeline

This video from the USA says about itself:

Oct 18, 2011

A ten-minute film capturing the grassroots movement against the Keystone XL, a 1700-mile pipeline that would transport tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada across the United States for refinement and export on the Gulf Coast.

By Tim McDonnell in the USA:

These Endangered Animals Could be Besieged by Keystone XL

Tue Aug. 20, 2013 1:36 PM PDT

In its deliberations over the Keystone XL pipeline, the State Department is taking flak not just from picket-sign-wielding environmentalists, but also from within the ranks of the Obama administration. This spring the EPA slammed an environmental review as “insufficient” and called for major revisions. And yesterday, Think Progress uncovered a letter from the Interior Department, dated from April, that outlines the many and varied ways in which the pipeline could wreak havoc to plants and animals (not to mention dinosaurs) along its proposed route.

The letter calls particular attention to a line in the State Department’s most recent environmental impact assessment that claims “the majority of the potential effects to wildlife resources are indirect, short term or negligible, limited in geographic extent, and associated with the construction phase of the proposed Project only.”

“This statement is inaccurate and should be revised,” the letter, signed by DOI Director of Environmental Policy and Compliance Willie Taylor, states. “Given that the project includes not only constructing a pipeline but also related infrastructure…impacts to wildlife are not just related to project construction. Impacts to wildlife from this infrastructure will occur throughout the life of the project.”

Which wildlife? The letter raises concerns that potential oil spills, drained water supplies, and bustling construction workers could cause a general disturbance, but identifies the critters below, some of which are endangered, for special attention:

Ross’ Goose Wikimedia Commons

The Ross’ Goose depends on Nebraska’s Rainwater basin, which the pipeline would pass through, as a key migratory stopover. A spill in the basin could “severely impact critical habitat,” the letter says.

Black-footed ferret Wikimedia Commons

Although the letter praises State Department plans to protect these endangered ferrets, it nonetheless raises concerns about the potential for infectious diseases from domestic pets at construction camps and worksites in Montana and South Dakota to spread to this population of less than 1,000 in the wild.

Sandhill crane Wikimedia Commons

Like the Ross’ Goose, the Sandhill crane depends on Nebraska’s Rainwater basin, which, according to the letter, could be severely impacted by an oil spill.

Least tern Wikimedia Commons

Already endangered, least terns depend for nesting on plot of protected federal land just 40 miles downstream from where the pipeline will cross Nebraska’s Niobara River. Nests could fail, the letter warns, if construction activities cause fluctuations in the river’s water level.

Piping plover

Also endangered, the piping plover depends on the same nesting site as the least tern and faces the same threats.

Sprague’s pipit

In 2010 the Fish & Wildlife Service found the tiny Sprague’s pipit qualified for endangered status, but hasn’t yet been able to officially list it because of higher-priority species. But the pipit breeds in Montana’s North Valley Grassland, which the pipeline would pass through, raising concerns about impact from a spill.

Pallid sturgeon Wikimedia commons

While not exactly the cutest on this list, Pallid sturgeons are also endangered; the letter raises concern that as water is withdrawn from the Platte River during the construction process, the fish and their eggs could suffocate. An assertion by the State Dept. that no plan is needed to mitigate damage to sturgeons, the letter says, “seems unsupported and requires further documentation.”

OCTOPUS pipeline project threatens top Chilean wetland for migratory and resident birds: here.

KEYSTONE PIPELINE LEAKS UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF OIL A pipeline that carries tar sands oil from Canada through seven states has leaked an unknown amount of crude oil over more than quarter-mile swath in northeastern North Dakota, state environmental regulators said. [AP]

Related articles

• Obama and Keystone XL: Which Future Will He Choose?
• Keystone XL Pipeline moves one step closer to reality

• US Department of Interior criticises State over Keystone XL impact report (theguardian.com)
• Keystone XL: TransCanada admits bitumen sinks, contradicting Enbridge’s claims (vancouverobserver.com)
• Keystone XL Pipeline protesters arrested after storming lobby (wjla.com)
• New Beer Lawsuit Could Spell Trouble For Keystone XL Pipeline (cleantechnica.com)
• It’s Not Just Carbon Emissions: Keystone XL Would Have ‘Permanent Impacts’ On Wildlife, Interior Department Says (thinkprogress.org)
• Keystone XL Foes Break Ground On Barn In Pipeline’s Path (denver.cbslocal.com)