On January 31, the U.S. Department of State published the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Keystone XL Pipeline, following a 2013 draft of the SEIS that received over 1.5 million public comments. The report includes studies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and effects of potential tar sands spills on water quality associated with the Keystone XL, while also addressing economic effects of the 875-mile pipeline’s construction and operation. The Final SEIS includes expanded analyses covering potential oil release and climate change as well as updated rail transport and oil market analyses that incorporate new economic modeling.

Proponents of the pipeline highlighted the report’s finding that the Keystone XL project would not change rates of Canadian oil sands extraction or U.S. demand for it.  According to the SEIS, 180,000 barrels of crude are already transported by rail per day. Moving oil by rail produces from 28 to 42 percent more GHG emissions and is more prone to spillage than transporting oil through pipelines.

Environmentalists were bolstered by the report’s recognition of climate change as an issue of consequence, and the fact that the SEIS is only the first step in the State Department’s recommendation to President Obama, who has ultimate approval authority for the pipeline. Opponents of the Keystone XL also argue that securing energy independence is negligible as refiners plan to ship most of the tar sands oil overseas.

In his decision President Obama will weigh whether the Keystone XL is in the national interest. He is under pressure from all sides on the issue this election year as Democrats and Republicans fight over control of the House and Senate.

Sources: E&E ClimateWire; U.S. Department of State