Trump Approves Keystone Pipeline, Cuts Regulations

[Shiranu]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/24/politics/trump-keystone-xl-dakota-access-pipelines-executive-actions/

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed executive actions to advance approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines.


The decision to advance the pipelines cast aside efforts by President Barack Obama's administration to block construction of the two pipelines, while making good on one of Trump's campaign promises.

As he signed the documents Tuesday in the Oval Office, Trump also vowed to "renegotiate some of the terms" of the Keystone bill and said he would then seek to "get that pipeline built."

Trump also issued executive actions declaring oil pipelines constructed in the US should be built with US materials, streamlining the regulatory process for pipeline construction and shortening the environmental review process.

Trump during his campaign said he would streamline the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, which was stalled for years in the Obama administration until Obama denied approval for the pipeline's construction altogether in November 2015.

And Trump said for the first time in December that he supported construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which stalled last year amid protests opposing its construction on Native American lands. The Obama administration denied the company a permit it needed to complete the pipeline late last year.

President Trump is legally required to honor our treaty rights and provide a fair and reasonable pipeline process," said Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairman Dave Archambault II in a statement. "Americans know this pipeline was unfairly rerouted towards our nation and without our consent. The existing pipeline route risks infringing on our treaty rights, contaminating our water and the water of 17 million Americans downstream."

Environmental groups and activists were also quick to slam the decision, with Tom Steyer, the president of NextGen Climate, accusing the Trump administration of putting "corporate interests ahead of American interests."

"The pipelines are all risk and no reward, allowing corporate polluters to transport oil through our country to be sold on the global market, while putting our air and water at serious risk," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat from North Dakota where the Dakota Access Pipeline is being built, welcomed the move, as did Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia.

"What this country needs is more jobs, and that is why I have always been a proponent of the Keystone XL Pipeline and was an original cosponsor of legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline project," Manchin, who has already supported several of Trump's nominees and initiatives, said in a statement. "With a majority of Americans in support of the Keystone XL pipeline's construction, I'm glad we are finally moving forward with this important project."

Just as Trump on Tuesday flicked to the need to "renegotiate" the Keystone XL pipeline terms, Trump during his campaign argued not just for quick approval of the pipeline, which would shuttle oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, but also said he would push for a deal that would grant US taxpayers a share of the profits. Trump said that the US would approve the pipeline while also seeking a "better deal."

Trump's approval of both pipelines are early signs of how his administration will take a drastically different approach to energy and environmental issues. Beyond approving the pipelines, Trump has also vowed to slash environmental protection regulations and has nominated several skeptics of the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change to key Cabinet posts dealing with environmental issues.

So he is passing one of the worst environmental disaster threats in recent memory, is cutting down regulations on the environmental research about it, and is threatening infringing upon treaties with other sovereign states (the Sioux Nation)...

Is it still too early to judge Trump?

[Hydra009]

This is what I feared might happen.  And not long after Obama did the right thing and rejected the XL pipeline, too. :(

Well, we're looking at President Drill Baby Drill for the next 4 years.  I hope you guys like protests and widespread public discontent, because that's what we're in for from here on out.

[Baruch]

The Koch brothers want pipelines, Warren Buffet prefers tanker cars ... this is one billionaire against another.  Don't like billionaires, then tax their wealth so they are only millionaires.  Obama wasn't being fair, he was just as payed off as Trump is.

[Atheon]

Hillary should have come right out and said she opposed the pipeline in her campaign, and made it a talking point. She might have won. Instead, she seemed to ignore the issue.

[Shiranu]

I have my doubts she  have even opposed it.

[GrinningYMIR]

I don't consider the Sioux as a sovereign state.

[Hydra009]

Sanders openly opposed it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OvuVef71TU

He had the correct position on climate change and the XL pipeline.  In the future, we would do well to support a candidate who closely matches his position.

[Shiranu]

I don't consider the Sioux as a sovereign state.

The United States treaty with the various Native Nations does though, and that is what is important. Several tribes have international delegations, passports, etc. that while the United States doesn't recognize... most other civilized countries do. Comparable to China and Tibet... except we might be even worse than the Chinese.

[Baruch]

Hillary should have come right out and said she opposed the pipeline in her campaign, and made it a talking point. She might have won. Instead, she seemed to ignore the issue.

She was probably waiting for Koch or Buffet money into the Clinton Fund.

[Baruch]

I don't consider the Sioux as a sovereign state.

Yes and no, per treaties and current courts.  But under George W we got a new Eminent Domain ... so the Feds could just take it.

[GrinningYMIR]

Then do so. Makes little difference to me, they lost the war a long time ago. Time to stop fighting.

[Sargon The Grape]

God dammit, Donald, I was almost starting to like you after you pulled out of TPP.

[Absurd Atheist]

Then do so. Makes little difference to me, they lost the war a long time ago. Time to stop fighting.

I see no reason why they should stop fighting?

[Unbeliever]

The fighting has only just begun, I fear. Non-violent Native Americans vs extremely violent mercenaries funded by Chump and his billionaire cronies.

Who'll win?

[Baruch]

God dammit, Donald, I was almost starting to like you after you pulled out of TPP.

Not enough money offered.  TTiP and Tisa are still live (Europe on a platter, like a pig with an apple).