FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 7, 2011

Contact: Maggie Kao, 202-675-2384

EPA Questions Safety of Toxic Tar Sands Pipeline 

Washington, D.C. – Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its official comments on the TransCanada Keystone XL toxic tar sands pipeline, deeming the U.S. Department of State’s recent analysis of the proposed pipeline to be environmentally objectionable and insufficient.  

The EPA’s comments highlighted concerns over the risks associated with pipeline safety and oil spills, the currently proposed route of the pipeline over critical water resources, industry disclosure of chemicals and procedures and the health effects on Gulf Coast communities and wetlands.

In response, Kate Colarulli, Sierra Club Associate Campaign Director for Beyond Oil released the following statement:

“The EPA’s analysis today confirms the fears of more than a quarter million Americans who have voiced their opposition to the toxic Keystone XL pipeline.

“The pipeline would threaten the drinking water of millions of Americans, dump toxic chemicals into Gulf Coast communities, spew billions of tons in dangerous carbon pollution into our air and hasten the destruction our land and water – all in service to the foreign company TransCanada’s efforts to control oil supply into America and drive up gas prices.

“The Sierra Club applauds EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for sounding the alarm on the dangers of Keystone XL, and as it becomes clear that the State Department has fallen short on this issue, we hope to see more involvement from President Obama.”

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