The Keystone Pipeline is a controversial oil pipeline system that transports tar sand oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas and vice versa. What makes it so controversial is that tar sand oil is the dirtiest of all oils and produces about four times more CO2 then regular oil. TransCanada is the company behind the pipeline and they seem to not be focused on the environment nearly as much as their money. According to Wikipedia the Keystone Pipeline system currently has the capacity to deliver up to 590,000 barrels per day. Of course, just like with most thing there are pros and cons.

PROS

Some of the pros that come along with the pipeline include creating jobs approximately, 40,000 jobs according to their website. This will bring billions of dollars into the U.S economy. The DEIS report below was taken right from the Keystone Pipeline Official Website.

The DEIS report states:

• Construction of the proposed project would contribute approximately $3.4 billion to U.S. GDP if implemented.
• A total of 42,100 jobs throughout the United States would be supported by construction of the proposed project.
• Total employment earnings supported by the proposed project would be approximately $2.053 billion.

Now lets move on to the negative aspects of the project.

There is always a possibility that this project could compromise our public water supplies, croplands, and recreational opportunities and put them at a  risk of dangerous tar sands oil spills. If this were to occur the effects would be devastating. The National Wildlife Federation also reports that expanding gas and oil production is contributing to the decline of caribou herds in Alberta Canada. This pipeline would make matters even worse. Lastly the US Dept of state printed a report on Jan 31st that did declare “The final environmental impact review finds that the pipeline will have an impact on the climate, but a limited one, because tar sands oil will be extracted  whether or not the pipeline is built.

.http://keystone-xl.com/facts/myths-facts/#sthash.ppeWJCUE.dpufhttp://keystone-xl.com/facts/myths-

facts/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9330295 

http://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/finalseis/index.htm