More input sought on crude oil pipeline that would overlie the Ogallala Aquifer

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110315/NEWS01/703169930#more-input-sought-on-pipeline

Published Tuesday March 15, 2011

By Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20110315&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=703169930&Ref=AR&Profile=102&maxw=490&maxh=275
An opponent of the Keystone XL pipeline, Matt Cronin, a 21-year-old college student from Omaha, launched a protest on Tuesday, pledging to not drink water or other fluids for up to three days to dramatize the need to pass state regulations to reroute the project.

LINCOLN -- The U.S. Department of State announced late Tuesday that it wants more public input before deciding whether to issue a permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would cross a portion Nebraska's groundwater-rich Sand Hills.

The State Department, in a press release, said it would take comments for an additional 45 days after it issues a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., had requested such a step after saying that TransCanada, Inc., consider rerouting their crude-oil pipeline so it doesn't cross the fragile soils of the Sand Hills, which overlies the Ogallala Aquifer.

Johanns, in a prepared statement, said that while the country needs additional energy sources, that he is concerned about the “sloppy routing” and “incomplete analysis” of such a pipeline crossing such a sensitive area.

“I believe there are better options to protect the Ogallala Aquifer and I look forward to the additional review,” Johanns said. “The analysis must fully consider the potential of a pipeline through sandy soil over the middle of the aquifer where the water table is so high.”

FULL story at link.

endangering that aquifer. Irrigation, farm chemical pollution of the water tables, etc. The people over it are not going to know what they have until they lose it. Probably some fracking going on around it also.