WV Senators Neglect Environment & Promote Eminent Domain for Private Gain

by Duane Nichols on January 9, 2015

Residential Crude Oil Pipeline Spill

WV Senators’ votes not even subject to debate

EDITORIAL – Morgantown Dominion Post, January 8, 2015, Page 4-A

Capito, Manchin putting Keystone pipeline at the center of nation’s energy policy

It’s apparent the new majority in “the world’s greatest deliberative body” has already made up its mind.  As for our state’s two members of the U. S. Senate, the one is simply toeing the line, while the other’s opportunism knows no bounds.

Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, who was recently named to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has said she will work to keep natural gas and coal at the center of energy policy. We’re curious how her unequivocal support for the Keystone XL pipeline keeps natural gas and coal at the center of energy policy.

Sen. Joe Manchin, who is the Democratic sponsor of this measure, refers to it as a “common sense bill.”  Never mind, his arguments for passage of this legislation don’t even make sense.  For instance, he said it will create thousands of jobs right here at home and would limit our future dependence on foreign oil.

First, though he owes his constituents an explanation, he never specifies where these thousands of jobs will emerge.  By all accounts, this project would generate about 2,000 temporary jobs in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas during a two-year construction period.  Then would generate about 50 jobs once in operation.

As for the dependence on foreign oil, imported oil does account for about 30 percent of our total – 9.9 million barrels per day in 2013.  But almost two-thirds of that imported oil comes from the Western Hemisphere, most of which comes from Canada. Not to mention, at the very same time our nation exported more than 3.6 million barrels daily in 2013.

But, the predictable posturing, nebulous jobs and iffy dependence aside, the environmental threats that surround tar sands oil are a clear and present danger. They range from the extraction and separation process to produce tar sand oil to spills and leaks, its corrosive effects and the carbon emissions released from burning this unconventional oil are far greater than conventional oil.

We beg to differ with Capito’s assessment that this is a “win-win all around the country.” If anything, it’s “high risk-low reward all around the country.” Holding the line in the “war on coal” or facilitating the production of natural gas we at least understand. However, rallying around a project to build and expand an 875 mile-long pipeline across America’s heartland to the Gulf of Mexico for exporting Canadian tar sands oil is quite another.

We’re disappointed that Capito and Manchin are so willing to sacrifice the environment and promote eminent domain for private gain.  But on second thought, their votes were never actually subject to debate, anyhow.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

C. Sue Miles January 9, 2015 at 3:17 pm

Senator Joe Manchin . . . January 9, 2015

I sincerely hope you will reconsider your position related to this issue. Consider these reasons:

1.Why in the world would we consider granting the right of eminent domain to the Keystone XL pipeline. This is a land grab to a foreign country? We can be good partners with our nearby neighbor without doing this. It should not be legal anyway because it is not a “critical need” issue for our country.

2. Do you really want to keep natural gas and coal at the center of energy policy when we look at the desecration of our country that continues to be happening?

3. It won’t create thousands of jobs right here at home and you know it.

4. And 50 jobs estimated when it is in operation?

5. The problems with extraction, spills, leaks, fires, and explosions give rise to methane and carbon dioxide emissions.

These reasons make voting against this a non-brainer alone. Please do vote against this bill. Voting in the affirmative for this is not in the best interest of West Virginia.

In addition, the statements as noted in the Dominion Post editorial yesterday pretty much sum up the other reasons that make the need to vote against this paramount.

Sincerely, Sue Miles, Morgantown, WV

Reply

S. Thomas Bond January 9, 2015 at 8:58 pm

The public must realize that decisions made by elected officials are rarely made on fact. They are too busy to do research on many topics. Every waking hour is filled with talking to people. Their “truth” is based on what they are told by individuals and organizations that force themselves on the politician’s consciousness.

An idea must first come to the politician, then must have enough weight to rate a portion of his time. Factors which give weight are those that will allow the politician to continue in office or rise to a higher office. (Or increase his/her personal fortune.)

Much skill is needed to avoid the pitfalls of political life by the right wording and gesture. The necessity of raising funds for advertising is a harassment for as long as the individual aspires to continue. The facts, as we normally think of them, have a low priority in an electoral system. It’s all about pleasing people who will help you continue or rise in your career.

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Karen White January 9, 2015 at 10:44 pm

Senator Manchin,

Please reconsider your position on the Keystone XL pipeline issue! The costs to the USA outweigh the benefits, in my opinion. Have you considered all the risks and costs?

Also, consider all the natural gas pipelines in and thru WV already here and all the new ones being proposed. There is no critical need to justify taking private land.

Fracking is too widespread and will increase. This will only cause sickness for all of WV. Deadly chemicals will be allowed to seep through the ground water and continue to pollute our beautiful state. Out of State extreme extraction industries have been allowed to do this for the last 20 years or more.

Are you going to continue to pretend to want a clean State?

Reply

P. A. Nichols January 10, 2015 at 11:55 am

Sue Miles sums it up pretty well. She missed, tho, that #KXL is only 1 pipeline being forced on land owners in order to fill wallets of Big Oil (Speaker Boehner has monetary ties as well).

Tar sands themselves are more toxic and more difficult to clean up to begin with. Areas of extraction are subjected to utter devastation.

And while North Dakota tar sands oil is also to be transported through KXL, TransCanada is moving their oil for export. Supporters want the same option for US oil. How does that increase our energy independence?

West Virginia’s 2nd most valuable resource is its beautiful mountains (after its people). Extraction of underground resources has taken a toll on that asset for far too long.
Coal, oil, and gas extraction threatens to destroy our beautiful state; its mountains, waters, forests, culture.

Instead of continuing to base WV’s economy on destructive ventures that are doomed to failure in this century, look forward and develop growing economic ventures that avail themselves of WV, and Appalachia’s more readily available assets – scenery, waterways and people.

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Robin Lee Horne January 10, 2015 at 5:27 pm

#JoeMustGo

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League of Conservation Voters January 13, 2015 at 3:37 pm

A Nationwide Campaign of the League of Conservation Voters

The authorization of the dirty Keystone XL pipeline passed the House last week and is being debated on the Senate floor right now. Proponents of this dirty and dangerous pipeline are furiously trying to sway a few more votes.

We need your help. No amount of debate can change the fact that Keystone XL is a total disaster for the environment. We can’t let this pass without a fight.

You can send an email to your Senator. Also visit us here:

http://www.lcv.org/media/press-releases/

Thank you, Gene Karpinski, LCV

Reply

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