Articles

TodayCongressman Kevin Cramer called attention to the track record of successful pipeline management in North Dakota at a hearing on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Lynn Helms, Director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, participated as one of four witnesses in the combined hearing of two Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittees.

In his testimony, Helms noted approval of the pipeline would remove 300 to 500 trucks per day from North Dakota roads, reduce highway fatalities in North Dakota by 3 to 6 per year, and injury crashes by 85 to 150 annually. Cramer evidenced the success of environmental controls on existing pipelines including the original Keystone and the Four Bears pipeline, as well North Dakota’s continued top rankings in air and water quality.

This week, continual delays in the needed signature from President Obama forced the Keystone XL permit applicant, TransCanada Corporation, to announce a corresponding delay in its expected completion date. The company now sees mid-2015, instead of late-2014, as a potential target. Nearly five years have elapsed since the application to build the Keystone XL was first submitted by TransCanada on September 19, 2008. The pipeline will have the capacity to carry over 830,000 barrels of oil per day, including 100,000 barrels per day from the Williston Basin.

Cramer is a cosponsor of the Northern Route Approval Act, which allows TransCanada to build the pipeline on the merits of existing impact studies, and without Presidential approval of the permit. Yesterday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor indicated the Act will be brought to a vote before the full House of Representatives later this month.

“The House intends to send a strong message by moving quickly on this legislation, even as the Obama administration does the exact opposite,” said Cramer. “The amount of research already completed across numerous state and federal agencies is truly exhaustive. Multiple environmental studies are complete, numerous public comment periods were provided for, and yet the President and his administrative agencies continue to drag their feet.”

The public comment period for the latest draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project ended April 22. Cramer sent a letter to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Coordinator Genevieve Walker, requesting the Supplemental EIS be finalized immediately following this deadline.

Congressman Cramer serves on the Natural Resources and Science, Space and Technology Committees. Within these committees, he serves on the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulations, and the Subcommittee on Energy.

Note: High resolution versions of both images are attached.

Video of the hearing is available at this link. Mr. Helms speaks at the 16:40 mark. Mr. Cramer speaks at the 1:23:50 mark.

###