What is the Keystone XL Pipeline?
The Keystone XL Pipeline is a proposed 1,179-mile pipeline that, if constructed, would transport up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada, to refineries and ports on the Gulf Coast of the United States. The pipeline, which is owned and operated by TransCanada, is intended to transport a type of crude oil called bitumen, which is extracted from Canada’s oil sand deposits. The Keystone XL Pipeline is an extension of the existing Keystone Pipeline, which has been operational since 2010.
What Impact Will the Keystone XL Pipeline Have on Native American Communities?
The proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would traverse through treaty lands and ancestral homelands of several Native American Tribes, including the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. Opponents of the pipeline fear that the construction of the pipeline will bring a number of environmental and cultural risks to Native American communities. Potential risks include the disruption of sacred sites, the contamination of drinking water, and the release of toxic chemicals into the air.
What is Being Done to Protect Native American Communities from the Risks of the Keystone XL Pipeline?
Since the proposed construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, Native American communities have expressed their opposition to the project. In response, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed a number of measures to mitigate the potential risks posed by the pipeline. These measures include the development of water monitoring plans, the identification of areas of potential contamination, and the establishment of buffer zones to minimize the disruption of sacred sites. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed the use of specialized construction techniques to minimize the risk of spills and leaks.
What is the Status of the Keystone XL Pipeline?
The proposed construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline has been the subject of debate since 2010. In 2015, President Obama issued an executive order rejecting the pipeline, citing the potential risks posed to Native American communities and the environment. However, in 2017, President Trump issued an executive order reversing President Obama’s decision and approving the construction of the pipeline. Since then, the Keystone XL Pipeline has been the subject of numerous legal challenges, and its future remains uncertain.
How Can Native American Communities Take Action?
Native American communities have been vocal in their opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline and have taken action to oppose the construction of the pipeline. These actions include filing legal challenges, engaging in civil disobedience, and organizing protests and rallies. In addition, Native American communities have partnered with environmental organizations to raise awareness about the potential risks posed by the pipeline.
What is the Bottom Line?
The Keystone XL Pipeline poses a number of environmental and cultural risks to Native American communities. In response, Native American communities have taken action to oppose the construction of the pipeline and to protect their communities from potential risks. Despite the opposition, the future of the Keystone XL Pipeline remains uncertain.
