April 15 2013 keystone pipeline by Daily Nebraskan

dailynebraskan.com

Monday, april 15, 2013

letter from

the editors A

lmost five years ago, TransCanada introduced the nation to a concept that would come to divide public opinion and fuel fiery political debate. They called it the Keystone XL pipeline, and now, its fate is imminent. It’s crunch time. It’s time to learn the facts and know the faces and the names associated with the pipeline that could change Nebraska forever. We at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln come from different backgrounds, communities and experiences — but the pipeline could affect us all. It could affect our economy. Pipeline proponents argue it will mediate gas prices, create jobs and strengthen the nation’s oil independence. It could affect our communities. Steele City, Neb., and Cushing, Okla., serve as examples of what could come for the cities that lie in the path of the pipeline. Construction could provide a temporary — or permanent — boost for small towns, rendering them unrecognizable.

It could affect our resources. The pipeline route runs above the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies water to 85 percent of Nebraskans. And though it remains uncertain whether a spill will occur or how a spill would impact the aquifer, Nebraskans are wary. The Daily Nebraskan sent reporters and photographers across the country and to Canada to examine the pipeline and the people and places it will affect. We’ve laid out the facts for you here on everything from the pipeline’s conception to its consequences, but we’ll leave the decision to you. Is the pipeline the right decision for America? For Nebraska? Residents will have their first and last chance to speak out on April 18 in Grand Island at the public hearing on the federal environmental review for the pipeline. So read up, because the pipeline isn’t just about oil. It’s about people. It’s about power. It’s about the future. And it’s closer than ever.

front cover by lauren vuchetich | section covers by gabriel sanchez and lauren vuchetich | outro photo by bethany schmidt

daily nebraskan editor-in-chief. . . . . . . . .. 402.472.1766 Andrew Dickinson managing editor. . . . . .. 402.472.1763 Riley Johnson ENGAGEMENT EDITOR. . . . 402.472.1763 Nick Teets news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402.472.1763 Hailey Konnath associate editor Jacy Marmaduke assignment editor opinion editor Ryan Duggan Rhiannon Root assistant editor arts & entertainment.. 402.472.1756 Chance Solem-Pfeifer editor Katie Nelson assistant editor sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .402.472.1765 editor Andrew Ward Paige Cornwell assistant editor assistant editor Lanny Holstein Design chief Liz Lachnit

visuals chief Matt Masin Kevin Moser assistant chief copy chief Frannie Sprouls web chief Kevin Moser art director Lauren Vuchetich Natalia Kraviec assistant director Gabriel Sanchez assistant director general manager. . . . . .402.472.1769 Dan Shattil Advertising. . . . . . . . . . . . .402.472.2589 manager Penny Billheimer Matt Jung student manager publications board.. . . 402.677.0100 chairman David Bresel professional AdvisEr . 402.473.7248 Don Walton

Founded in 1901, the Daily Nebraskan is the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s only independent daily newspaper written, edited and produced entirely by UNL students. General Information The Daily Nebraskan is published weekly on Mondays during the summer and Monday through Friday during the nine-month academic year, except during finals week. The Daily Nebraskan is published by the UNL Publications Board,

20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448. The board holds public meetings monthly. Subscriptions are $115 for one year. job applications The Daily Nebraskan accepts job applications year-round for paid positions.

To apply, visit the Daily Nebraskan offices, located in the basement of the south side of the Nebraska Union. Check out DailyNebraskan.com for access to special features only available online. ©2013 Daily Nebraskan.

dailynebraskan.com

Monday, april 15, 2013

table of contents an xl matter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An abridged history of the Keystone XL pipeline

Page 4

OIL: RHETORIC AND RESOURCES tHE POLITICS AND ECONOMICS OF oIL IN aMERICA WHAT IS OIL?. . . . . . . . . . . . cRUDE OIl: WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS

MAKING CENTS OF THE PIPELINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . eCONOMISTS DISCUSS THE kEYSTONE xl’S BENEFITS and DRAWBACKS WEIGHING THE RISKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . unl STAFF, STUDENTS DIFFER IN OPINION ON PIPELINE A WORK IN PROGRESS. . . . . . . . . . . . ESTIMATES VARY ON pIPELINE’S JOB CREATION ABILITY

. .

SAFETY TRAINING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . TRANSCANADA OUTLINES PLAN FOR SPILL PREVENTION

. .

PAGE 9 PAGE 8

pAGE 8

. .

PAGE 10

PAGE 11

PAGE 14

STEELE CITY: EBB AND FLOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMALL NEBRASKA TOWN’s POPULATION AT MERCY OF PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

PAGE 16

Page 18

ON THE GROUND PEOPLE AND THE PIPELINE cUSHING: IN THE HEART OF IT ALL. . . . . . . oKLAHOMA TOWN SERVES AS PIPELINE CROSSROADS

Path to a pipeline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . construction on gulf coast pipeline already underway BOOM OR BUST. . . . . . . . . . . OIL AS A LIFEBLOOD AND DEATH SENTENCE

PAGE 19

YANKTON SIOUX: LAST RESORT. . . . . . . . . . . tRIBE LAUNCHES EFFORT TO FIGHT PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

PAGE 19

pROMISED LAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSCANADA AND LAND OWNERS

pAGE 20

PAGE 24

GREEN & BLACK sAFETY AND THE PIPELINE DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE. . . . . . . KEYSTONE XL CONSTRUCTION AND RABBITS a BOLD OPPOSITION. . . . . . . . . A PROFILE Of JANE KLEEB’S BOLD NEBRASKA

. .

PAGE 25

WHAT LIES BENEATH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOW THE PIPELINE COULD AFFECT NEBRASKA’S LARGEST WATER RESOURCE

PAGE 26

‘iT’S STILL NOT CLEANED UP AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE’. THE STORY BEHIND THE KALAMAZOO RIVER OIL SPILL

PAGE 28

PAGE 29

A DIFFERENT ANIMAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RESEARCHERS EXPECT AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE TO WITHSTAND PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

PAGE 30

OUR VIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dn COLUMNISTS WEIGH IN ON PIPELINE’S PROS and CONS

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. . . . . . . . . . . HOW TRANSCANADA WOULD DEAL WITH AN OIL SPILL

OUTRO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WHERE THE OIL’S GOING, WHERE THE KEYSTONE xl PIPELINE’S FUTURE LIES

. .

PAGE 32

PAGE 38

an xl matter s t o r y b y d a n i e l w h e at o n | p h o t o b y M at t m a s i n

ince its inception, TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline has been a politically divisive issue. Environmentalists and some landowners have become odd bedfellows opposing it. Meanwhile pipeline proponents, including legislators and politicians, tout its economic benefits. The 1,179-mile crude oil pipeline would deliver 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Hardisty in Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Neb., where the oil would travel to the Texas Gulf Coast through another pipeline. In northern Nebraska, the Ogallala Aquifer’s water table is high, meaning an oil spill could potentially taint Nebraska’s major water source. Eminent domain and farmers’ rights have also entered the dialogue. Many questions remain unanswered. Although initially a partisan issue, an increasing number of Democrats support the pipeline. Seventeen Democrats joined 45 Republicans in a March 22 U.S. Senate vote to support construction of the pipeline. Both U.S. Department of State and the State of Nebraska have given the pipeline a thumbs-up in environmental studies. On April 18, the state department will hold the only public hearing on the project in Grand Island. Ultimately, the decision rests on the shoulders of President Barack Obama.

THE BEGINNING

In July 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency said the TransCanada environmental study on the pipeline wasn’t detailed enough because it didn’t address what would happen in the case of a spill or as a result of carbon emission. Meanwhile, TransCanada began emphasizing the jobs the pipeline could create. More than a year later, Cornell’s Global Labor Institute debunked some of TransCanada’s claims in its report “Pipe Dreams?” that said the pipeline would create as few as 50 permanent jobs. In November 2011, President Barack Obama postponed a final decision on the pipeline, halting the project. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman also called on Obama to deny TransCanada’s permit. “We remain confident Keystone XL will ultimately be approved,” said Russ Girling, TransCanada’s president and CEO, at the time.“This project is too important to the U.S. economy, the Canadian economy and the national interest of the United States for it not to proceed.”

THE SPECIAL SESSION

That fall, Heineman called for a special legislative session to debate the pipeline. Discussion and concerns continued to focus on the possible effects on the ecologically fragile Sandhills. The governor left the legislators to work out the details on their own. “The public outcry has just continued to get louder and louder, stronger and stronger,” said State Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton.

The special session lasted two weeks and resulted in two new laws, the Major Oil Pipeline Siting Act and an another diverting the pipeline’s route away from the Sandhills. The legislation also allowed the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to analyze the pipeline and issue a report addressing concerns on the Sandhills. Former Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood and the Legislature brokered a deal with TransCanada to move the pipeline.

THE REAWAKENING

While remaining mostly out of discussion in 2012, Heineman in 2013 resurrected pipeline discussion. On Jan. 22, he approved a new route for the pipeline that largely avoided the Sandhills. At the same time, the NDEQ released a report that found the reroute minimally harmful to the environment. The 194.5-mile-long reroute moves the pipeline east of the original route and across the High Plains Aquifer instead of the Clarks Wellhead Protection Area, a sensitive region where the aquifer is close to the surface. Heineman also called on TransCanada to take responsibility for spills and develop appropriate action plans. In opposition, BOLD Nebraska has organized several rallies against the pipeline in Nebraska. “Only senators who take millions from big oil companies could think that tar sands passing through our country to some unknown destination is going to give us energy independence,” said Nebraska landowner Randy Thompson, who has become a symbol for BOLD Nebraska, in February.

THE CONTROVERSY IN WASHINGTON

Before the 2012 election, Obama was largely silent on the pipeline. Although Obama supports fighting climate change, some environmentalists saw his inaction as a failure to continue his climate change agenda. In early March, the Department of State analyzed the impact of the pipeline and found its construction, and use of oil, would create the same amount of global warming pollution as an estimated 626,000 passenger vehicles. Generally, the GOP has been supportive of the pipeline. Both Nebraska Sens. Deb Fischer and Mike Johanns joined 60 other senators who support the pipeline’s construction. Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry, who represents Omaha, has expressed support as well, calling the pipeline “a no-brainer” on March 30. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, whose district includes Lincoln, has remained mum on the subject recently, though he lauded Heineman’s opposition to the pipeline after the special session in 2011. “(Obama) talked about the upside of it, the downside of it, the over-hyped benefit versus the real benefit,” Fortenberry told the Omaha World-Herald on March 14. “So clearly he’s deliberating still.”

Oil tanks light up the night sky in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, along Highway 13. Residents of Hardisty say many people traveling along Highway 13 think the lights are the town of Hardisty because the tanks are secluded on the highway 45 minutes from the nearest town. Five different oil companies hold oil near Hardisty, including TransCanda, where the Keystone XL pipeline would start if it is passed by President Obama.

intro

OIL RHETORIC & RESOURCES

dailynebraskan.com

Monday, april 15, 2013

making cents of the pipeline unl professor, companies’ spokesmen debate pipeline’s economic effect STORY

N AT H A N

ith the Keystone XL pipeline decision expected in the near future, the benefits and detriments of allowing its development remain as nebulous as ever. The pipeline, if constructed, will cut through Nebraska and be capable of transporting nearly 830,000 barrels of oil per day, according to TransCanada, the company building Keystone XL. Spokesmen for both TransCanada and Valero Energies, a Gulf Coast refining company and potential beneficiary of pipeline oil, say a steady and safe supply of the tar sands crude oil from Alberta, Canada, will mediate United States’ gas prices. “(More oil) certainly can’t hurt,” said Bill Day, Valero external communications coordinator. “I can’t promise that using North American oil will make everybody’s gas prices go down, but what I can say is that it will help stabilize prices and moderate prices. The more locally produced and domestically produced oil we use, the less susceptible the U.S. will be to price shock.” Price shock, Day said, can be caused by several factors such as geopolitical issues or natural disasters. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, 8 percent of U.S. oil production was shut down, and gas prices rose as high as $5 per gallon, according to a PBS report. “If you’re bringing oil in from Canada by pipeline, there’s no hurricane that’s going to disrupt that,” Day said. Both Day and TransCanada spokesman

SI N DELAR

Shawn Howard agreed the pipeline will be able to transport a large amount of oil quickly without public disturbance. “If you want to move the volume that we are moving, you do it in a pipeline,” Howard said. “We are able to move the equivalent of 1,500 to 1,600 railways cars or 45,000 tanker trucks per day in the pipeline, and you are able to move the product with very little impact.” However, while he agreed pipelines deliver an efficient method for crude oil transportation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln economics professor Hendrik van den Berg said he believes the perceived benefits of pipeline construction are exaggerated at best. “The idea that bringing the tar sands down to the U.S. will somehow specifically benefit us? You know, oil, it flows,” van den Berg said. “It will flow to wherever the markets take it. No one can predict where that’s going.” Valero Energies has no intention of exporting the crude oil it could receive once the pipeline is completed. In fact, exportation would be illegal without applying for a permit from the Department of Commerce, Day said. “We want that oil,” Day said. “We want to refine it. We are a refining company.” But once crude oil is refined into gasoline, diesel, kerosene or any of its many other potentialities, the end product can enter

AND

LA N N Y

H OLSTEI N

“Everything I’ve seen suggests that this the global economy – where it will go wheris a huge supply of oil,” Day said. “It’s alever the prices are best, van den Berg said. ready lowered (Valero’s) dependence on “Whoever is buying and whoever is selling on a given day, that’s where the foreign oil.” TransCanada intends to operate the oil flows to,” van den Berg said. “The impipeline for decades. pression that all the oil would stay in the “We need to have a long contract to U.S.? That’s simply not the way the market works. Once it’s refined, it’s like any other cover the price of putting in the pipeline,” product. Once a part of the global market, Howard said. “For Keystone XL, for example, the contract is 18 to 20 years. It’s long, why would one price be lower in one place but it’s standard.” than another?” In van den Berg’s He called the balancing (Oil) will flow view, the pipeline dequalities of an additional to wherever bate’s real stakes rest and steady flow of oil “marhere. ginal.” the markets take it. “The question is, ‘Can “There’s so much more this tar sands provide oil that’s coming out of the No one can predict more fuel?’” van den Middle East than would be where that’s going.” Berg said. “Well, yes it coming out of this pipeline, can; there’s an awful lot that (natural or major politiHendrik van den Berg there. But can we use it? cal disasters) would still obunl economics professor Can the atmosphere (and) viously have an overwhelmthe environment stand ing effect on world prices,” putting that much carbon van den Berg said. into the air?” Collectively, the world produces nearly Hitting the 20 to 25 percent mark for 85 million barrels of crude oil each day, actotal usage of known and accessible carbon cording to the CIA’s website. fuel deposits may irreversibly affect atmoThe daily of potential of the Keystone spheric temperatures, van den Berg said. XL pipeline, about 830,000 barrels, consti“We may drive a few more cars, but we tutes less than 1 percent of the global oil get climate change,” he said, adding that tar economy. sand oil, in particular, takes a toll on the enBut the tar sands crude oil in Canada house what Day called a “revolutionary” economy: see page 35 amount of oil.

Weighing the risks

Story by Melissa Allen and Kelli Rollin

UNL students, scholars discuss TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline

ith completion of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline set for mid-2013 pending federal approval, people on both sides of the issue are bumping heads. “It’s necessary to weigh the costs and benefits of the situation,” said Eric Thompson, associate professor of economics and director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “People have to consider the negatives or potential environmental damage caused by the pipeline and think about the positives of improving the flow of oil in the country.” It’s important to look more at the national scale of economic growth that will be coming out of this project – and not just for Nebraska, Thompson said. It may improve the flow of resources and have a positive effect on the national economy. “There are some definite economic benefits like the increase of property tax on property,”

Thompson said of the local economic gain the pipeline may bring. An increase of property tax would help fund governmental projects and school programs. According to a 2011 study by Canadian Energy Research Institute, tar sands oil investments are expected to create 444,000 new U.S. jobs and generate $521 billion in U.S. government revenues by 2035. There’s potential that the Keystone XL pipeline construction may generate 20,000 U.S. jobs, but some reports have concluded the employment gains could be as few as 500 temporary jobs, and many jobs created by the pipeline would not be in the United States. Mikayla Schultz, a sophomore psychology and philosophy major at UNL, said she supports the pipeline. “I think that as long as it is creating jobs, the pipeline will be a good thing,” Schultz said. “If it doesn’t harm the environment or disturb the (Ogallala Aquifer), I’m cool with it.”

But Wayne Woldt, associate professor of biological systems, engineering and environmental engineer, said he’s not so sure the environmental risk is worth it. “I’m not fully convinced that the possible scenarios and risks of an oil spill have been fully identified and studied,” Woldt said. “The natural environment, including aquifers, is complex. Different types of materials are in different parts of an aquifer. I don’t think possible implications of a spill have been researched under those various conditions.” Reed Brodersen, a junior environmental studies major, said the economic benefits of the pipeline will be both minimal and short-lived. “We need to expand our economic considerations to not only include the few short-term benefits but also the long-term negative economic impacts that the pipeline will create,” Brodersen said. “Including, but not limited to, the costs of spill clean-up, healthcare costs associated with fossil fuel emissions and the

huge economic costs associated with climate change.” Brodersen said the pipeline presents a “a fork in the road.” “Will we continue to value minimal economic benefits and the interests of large corporations over the health of our land and water, of our nation’s people and of the planet and all of its inhabitants?” Broderson said. For some people, the decision has already been made. A poll done by Pew Research Center from March 13-17, found that 66 percent of Americans support the Keystone XL pipeline. “The decisions we make now on this issue, on both state and national levels, will set precedents, legally and culturally that will be used in making future decisions on issues regarding the infringement of citizens’ rights and environmental protection,” Brodersen said. News@ dailynebraskan.com

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

WHAT IS

oIl? uniqueness, rarity of organic Material fuels both scarcity and deMand

sTory by ZacH TeGler | GrapHIc by lauren vucHeTIcH

t’s been the focal point of scrutiny, wars in the Middle East and disasters south of the Gulf Coast. It’s fueled our world since the 1800s and been a part of religious ceremonies, paintings and literature for millennia before that. It’s been dubbed Texas tea, dinosaur juice, bubblin’ crude and black gold. Oil, that is. While everyone knows about oil, not everyone knows what it actually is. Oil, according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln earth and atmospheric sciences professor Chris Fielding, is a liquid organic material – a product of the decomposition of onceliving things. It’s formed during thousands of years following the burial of dead organisms underground. “Under the ground, it’s hotter and there’s greater pressure,” Fielding said, “and under those conditions, those organic materials decompose. And as part of that transformation, oil is released at a certain temperature.” But oil is only released by the breakdown of certain organisms – such as algae – under certain conditions. “That’s why you can’t just poke a hole in the ground anywhere and find oil,” Fielding said. “That’s why it’s a highly scientific exercise, and that’s why scientists are employed in looking for oil and gas.” Conditions not only dictate where oil is, but what type of oil it is – and many types exist. “They range from very, very light and easily poured things like kerosene to very, very viscous materials that won’t flow at all,” Fielding said. “If you pour it out of a vessel, it basically wouldn’t shift – so things like tar.” The category of thick, gooey material includes oil from 54,000 square miles of so-called tar sands located in Alberta, Canada. That brand of oil has taken center stage in Nebraska, a state through which the TransCanada energy company has planned to install the Keystone XL pipeline. Fielding said the oil from the tar sands is unique because its reserves are located near the surface, and the fact that it biodegraded in place has made it thick, sticky and heavy. “That’s bad news because we can’t use heavy oil,” he said. “We can’t put heavy, sticky, gooey stuff into motor vehicles to fuel them. In order to make that stuff useful, you have to refine it considerably.” That’s where the pipeline enters the fray. After the oil is extracted – shallow-lying material can literally be mined – it funnels through the 36-inch-diameter pipe to be pumped to refineries. But, once again, the oil from Alberta’s Athabasca oil

OIL Dead microorganisms, such as algae, are buried underground. During the course of millions of years, these remains are subjected to intense heat and pressure beneath the surface. These conditions cause the release of oil from the material. The oil, being less dense than the material around it, migrates upward through pore space in underground sediments until it is trapped by an overlying layer of rock through which it cannot migrate (because of a lack of pore space). In the case of the tar sands, oil migrates all the way to the surface or near it.

sands presents unique challenges. It’s syrupy and tarry. “This stuff is so thick and viscous, they have to keep it sort of hot to make it flow,” said John Stansbury, an associate professor in and interim chair of the UNL Department of Civil Engineering. “They keep the pressure high, and then that keeps the temperature of the material high enough that it actually flows.” The high temperatures and pressures of the pipeline make it more prone to leak the toxic material, a threat Stansbury said is associated with all pipelines. So the pipeline poses the problem of a potential natural disaster – but the tar sands of Alberta, which Fielding said are close to the surface and cheap to extract, represent a resource North America can use to become self-sufficient for oil. Those two factors are the ingredients for controversy. news@ daIlynebraskan.com

10 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

A work in progress Story by Cristina Woodworth

Trade, transit unions differ over Keystone pipeline job creation

he number and types of jobs to be created by the Keystone XL pipeline project has continued to be one of the main controversies surrounding the issue, with trade unions backing – and transit unions opposing – construction of the proposed pipeline extension. Job creation predictions from the construction and operation of the pipeline have come up with a number of conflicting estimates, mostly because of uncertainty about the timeline of the project and different methods for calculating employment creation. The most recent report from the U.S. Department of State predicts 35 permanent positions will be created during the operational phase of the pipeline, along with 15 temporary contractor positions. The majority of the jobs created from the pipeline project would come during the construction phase, with about 3,900 estimated temporary construction jobs to be created, according to the state department’s report, which was published in early March. Much of the controversy over job creation from the Keystone XL pipeline has revolved around the fact many of the new jobs will only be temporary positions and will not benefit workers once the pipeline is completed. Trade union leaders, however, say even temporary jobs will benefit workers and their industries. Ronald Kaminski, business manager and secretary treasurer for the Midwest Region of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, said the nature of construction work is fundamentally temporary, anyway. “Every project in construction

JOBS TOTAL JOBS CREATED DURING ENTIRE PROJECT TransCanada estimate: 20,000 jobs U.S. Department of State report: 42,100 jobs PERMANENT POSITIONS CREATED “Pipe Dreams” Cornell University Study: as few as 50 jobs U.S. Department of State report: 35 jobs TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION JOBS CREATED TransCanada estimate: 13,000 jobs U.S. Department of State report: 3,900 jobs “Pipe Dreams” Cornell University Study: 2,500-4,650 jobs is temporary,” Kaminski said. “You build a building, and it’s done. You build a pipeline, and then it’s done.” Kaminski said he considers the predicted construction jobs from the pipeline project to be substantial, however, because they will last longer than many other of the projects for which construction workers are hired. If approved, the pipeline is scheduled to be completed within one or two years, with seasonal construction jobs lasting from four to eight months, according to the state department report. “This will be huge if it is approved,” Kaminski said. “It will mean jobs for Americans, good-paying jobs with benefits. We’ve worked with TransCanada in the past and have created a solid relationship with them.”

From previous oil pipeline projects, Kaminski estimated construction workers made an average of $25 to $40 an hour, and the work lasted for about two years. All of the building unions have expressed support for the Keystone XL pipeline project, but several of the largest transit unions have said they oppose the project because the jobs it will create are increasing America’s dependence on tar sands oil. James Little, president of the Transport Workers Union, and Larry Hanley, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, have both voiced their opposition to the pipeline project. “We need jobs, but not ones based on increasing our reliance on tar sands oil,” they said in a joint statement in August 2011. “There is no shortage of water and sewage

pipelines that need to be fixed or replaced, bridges and tunnels that are in need of emergency repair, transportation, infrastructure that needs to be renewed and developed. Many jobs could also be created in energy conservation, upgrading the grid, maintain and expanding public transportation – jobs that can help us reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.” Kaminski said many of the transit unions are opposed to the pipeline, however, because more oil will be transported through the pipeline than using trucks, railways and other forms of transit transportation. “The pipeline means less jobs for their industry,” Kaminski said. The state department report estimated that 42,100 overall jobs would be supported throughout the United States through the construction of the pipeline, including employment across all industries. Residents in the four states the pipeline would cross – Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas – would hold about 12,000 of the jobs, or about 29 percent. The remaining jobs would occur in other states across the country in industries like trade, professional services, lodging and food services. Other studies about the number of jobs created by the pipeline project vary greatly from the state department’s report. TransCanada released its own report in January 2012 that said the Keystone XL project would create 20,000 jobs, with 13,000 construction jobs and 7,000 jobs in manufacturing,

jobS: see pAge 36

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

Safety training story by Lis Arneson

TransCanada takes steps to ensure environmental safety

s plans move forward on the Keystone XL pipeline, concerns loom about the project’s environmental risks. Shawn Howard, spokesman for the TransCanada Corporation, said those risks are under control. Extensive inspection and testing occurs before a pipeline gets the green light, he said. Preparation for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry tar sands from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, before reaching delivery terminals in Steele City, Neb., is no different. “Inside our company, the safety culture is huge,” Howard said. “Nobody wants to see a single drop leave the pipeline or leave at our pump stations. Nobody has a stronger interest than we do in making sure our pipelines operate safely, which is the way they’re designed to.” The Keystone I Mainline has been in operation since 2010. It has already safely delivered more than 350 million barrels of oil into the Midwest U.S. refineries, he said. More than 800 inspectors worked on the construction of the first pipeline, Howard said. As welds on the pipeline are being completed, they are visually inspected, he said. Then X-ray technology is used to inspect each weld, which is something not every company uses, he said. Next, the pipeline undergoes hydrostatic testing, in which water is pushed through the pipeline at a pressure higher than it will operate at, Howard said. “All of these methods will help identify if there are any welding issues before the pipeline is passed and certified for operation,” he said. Howard said every step of the way has to be improved by inspectors. “Safety isn’t somebody’s job title; it’s a mindset,” Howard said. “We’re all responsible for it. We’ve worked for 60 years to build an industryleading safety record.” Once the pipeline is in operation, 16,000 data transmitters measure pressure, how the product is flowing

SAFETY BY THE NUMBERS The Keystone I Mainline has been in operation since 2010. It has already safely delivered more than 350 million barrels of oil into the Midwest U.S. refineries. More than 800 inspectors worked on the construction of Once the pipeline is in operation, 16,000 data transmitters and other factors. There are 100 miles of contiguous contaminated groundwater in northeastern Nebraska. in a pipeline and other factors, Howard said. “This helps us determine if everything is operating as it’s designed to or if there is something that requires some investigation,” Howard said. The data from the transmitters that comes to TransCanada’s Operational Control Centre is carefully analyzed by highly trained personnel known as leak detection specialists, Howard said. Data is sent to the control center every five seconds, according to TransCanada’s website. Leak detection specialists analyze data and monitor the activities in the pipeline to look for anything that may not be operating as it’s supposed to, like a drop in pressure, Howard said. “If they suspect or see that something is taking place, the pipeline is shut down within minutes and, until everyone is satisfied that operations can resume safely, the pipeline remains shut down,” Howard said. Roy Spalding, an agronomy and horticulture professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said underground pipelines have

a much lower risk of failure than transferring a commodity by train or truck. “It’s a better alternative in terms of risk,” Spalding said. “Is the risk zero? No.” Spalding researches water quality at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Spalding’s article, “Risk-Managed Approach for Routing Petroleum Pipelines: Keystone XL Pipeline, Nebraska,” was featured in Environmental Science & Technology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Spalding co-authored the article with Aaron Hirsh, a civil engineering graduate student at UNL. Hirsh is also minoring in water resources planning and management and environmental studies. Much of the concern about the pipeline is the potential for groundwater contamination, Spalding said. Groundwater contamination is considered point-source contamination, which means the substance does not travel very far from where the leak or release occurs and does not contaminate a very large area, Spald-

ing said. “It would be easier to clean up than having, say, a surface water release,” Spalding said. In the article, Spalding and Hirsh recommend routing the pipeline over groundwater already contaminated with nitrate from fertilizer. “This should negate further complaints from the environmental groups over the contamination of groundwater,” Spalding said. There are 100 miles of contiguous contaminated groundwater in northeastern Nebraska, Spalding said. When TransCanada rerouted the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, they moved toward Spalding and Hirsh’s suggested route, but not on it completely. Initially the pipeline had the shortest distance possible between two points, Spalding said. Howard said when Tr a n s C a n a d a nobody begins planhas a ning a pipeline, it consid- stronger interest ers geography, geology and than we do in special fea- making sure our tures. “The idea pipelines operate behind picksafely.” ing the shortest route posshAwn howArd sible is to transcanada spokesman minimize how much ground we have to dig up and disturb,” Howard said. The Keystone I Mainline already routes through the northeastern portion of the state. Spalding and Hirsh’s risk-managed route for the Keystone XL pipeline has it running next to the main line once it meets up with it. “If they went parallel to the main line, then they wouldn’t have to go through all of this new territory to get to the same place,” Spalding said. “It means that it would be a longer distance, but we’re talking maybe a mile or two longer than what they are proposing. I think a lot of the controversy would be solved.” news@ dailynebraskan.com

ON THE GROUND PEOPLE & THE PIPELINE

14 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

Wendy Maxwell, of Louisiana, has been on the road in an RV with her husband for eight years, following work wherever it leads her. Since October 2012, Maxwell has been working for Wanzek Construction on a site in Cushing, Okla., where she operates heavy machinery.

In the heart

of it all CushIng, Okla., welCOmes keystOne Xl tO ‘pIpelIne CrOssrOads Of the wOrld’ story by andrew barry and gabriella Martinez-garro | Photos by Kat buChanan

CUSHING, OKLA. — Ask residents to describe life here, and their answers are the same. Cushing isn’t unlike most other small towns in the Midwest. It has its share of restaurants, two new hotels and a downtown. High school football is a pretty big deal. Most jobs are blue-collar or at mom-andpop businesses. In this town of more than 7,800, most everybody knows or has heard of one another. But this town between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, in the middle of the state and the heart of Middle America, is in the middle of something much larger than just Americana. Head in almost any direction toward the town’s perimeter and you will find a quiet and efficient part of a global controversy: oil. Millions of barrels of crude oil stored by the hundreds in large tanks surround Cushing – about 40 million barrels to be specific, according to the Chamber of Commerce. Cushing’s been called the “pipeline crossroads of the world.” It’s a moniker the city boasts on the pipeline sculpture on its outskirts. Beneath the town’s feet, oil pumps constantly through a web of pipelines. Oil has created jobs, sustained businesses, built a backbone for some city services and helped the community weather the Great Recession. And with plans for the Keystone XL to pass through Cushing on its route to the Gulf of Mexico, residents of Cushing find their city at the heart of a national and global discussion, one fixated on their town’s lifeblood.

Cushing’s engine

With the current construction, the Chamber of Commerce expects Cushing’s crude oil storage to increase from 40 million barrels to a storage capacity of 60 million barrels by the end of this year. “They’re our economic engine in our community,” said Brent Thompson,

dailynebraskan.coM

the executive director for Cushing’s Chamber of Commerce. “We are dependent upon that industry.” Cushing’s economy relies on the oil industry, according to Thompson. “They make the most money, they spend the most money,” he said. “The petroleum companies pay well, and their benefits packages are next to none.” The oil industry has made a transition to where it is primarily driven by technology, Thompson said. While work in the oilfields is still abundant in Cushing, much of the work in oil surrounds construction. Many of the jobs in Cushing and the neighboring area are now temporary. Thompson said he thinks about 300 of Cushing’s residents work for the oil industry. Wendy Maxwell and her husband turned to this kind of construction work in the midst of the economic recession. They have been on the road working various construction jobs across the Midwest for the last eight years. “When we came on the road eight years ago, we had a 10-year plan,” said Maxwell, who is a heavy equipment operator for Wanzek Construction. “We look at this different than a lot of other people. When you go out on the road, you usually make a lot more money than you do if you were just at home, but just because we make more money don’t mean we spend more money. I mean, if we’re going to sacrifice being away from our family and our friends, we’re doing this for a purpose. So in 10 years, we knew we could go home and everything could be paid for. We’ll have money in the bank to help us in the future and enjoy life from then. But, in the meantime, in the years we’ve been on the road, I’ve gotten to see a lot of country that I wouldn’t have gotten to see.” Maxwell and her husband have lived in a mobile home community in Cushing since October 2012, but their permanent home is in Louisiana. Maxwell said their nomadic lifestyle is necessary. A lack of housing in Cushing has caused problems for many of the temporary workers and city officials, said Mike Griffith, president and chief operating officer of Doug Carson & Associates. Some of the workers are forced to live outside of town or in some type of impermanent lodging facility because there isn’t a lot of room for Cushing to grow. The hotels and motels of Cushing are rarely vacant, Griffith said, because of all the construction in the Cushing area. They do not solve all of the housing issues for construction workers in Cushing, but seem to merely provide a temporary solution to a potentially growing problem. Besides the temporary construction jobs and work within the oil companies, there is one manufacturer related to oil in Cushing. Submersible Pumps, Inc., makes oil pumps and other pump line parts. The company is headquartered in Cushing, but it has two other domestic locations, and three international locations – in Libya, Guatemala and Argentina. “Our part of the industry is actually prior to anything that happens here in Cushing,” said Tim Jones, whose family owns SPI. “We sell pumps to individual operators that pump the oil out of the ground. We have other facilities just like we have here overseas. We do quite a bit of exporting just out of Cushing.” SPI not only plays a vital role in the production of oil, but it also provides jobs that help sustain Cushing. As of February, Payne County, which includes Cushing and Stillwater, among other towns and cities, had an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. Although the small-town feel of Cushing allows for a tight-knit community, it has become difficult to attract workers outside of the oil industry. Many workers would rather take

Monday, april 15, 2013

deep rock elementary school in cushing, okla., is surrounded on three sides by oil fields, with only barbwire fences separating the playground from the tanks. The school board in cushing recently passed a grant that will allow a new elementary school to begin construction as of March 5. their knowledge and expertise to larger, surrounding cities. “It is a real struggle to attract good people,” Griffith said. “Most of the type of people I need, from an engineering standpoint, would be in Austin, Silicon Valley. Oklahoma is just not a breeding ground for it.”

Precaution and PreParation

Risk in the business of storing vast amounts of oil is high. Despite the safety precautions many oil companies are required to take, the possibility of oil fires, spills and even threats on a national level loom over the oil-centric town of Cushing. The measures Cushing has taken to protect its citizens have recently expanded to protection against pipeline protesters. Koln Knight, the superintendent of Cushing’s school system, said protesters, especially violent ones, are rare in Cushing and have only appeared recently. “Now there were some protesters here who wanted to set up who were against the pipeline, which, I’ve been here since 1986 and this is one of the first pipelines coming in that we’ve really had anybody trying to do a protest,” Knight said. “None of those panned out, and the only reason we had to deal with one of them is because our middle school is down here, and the city library is just a quarter of a block away from it, and that’s where they were planning to set up and do their protest. We also heard that some of those protesters might become violent. So we had to have security, and we were concerned for our kids, but nothing ever panned out, you know?” While TransCanada’s pipeline construction has only recently brought unwelcome visitors to the town, the risk of threat and violence because of the city’s oil storage has existed in Cushing for years. Because of the large

CUSHING CUSHING OKLAHOMA CITY

amount of oil, it is possible the town could experience “terroristic threats.” To prevent those threats, oil companies in Cushing keep quiet about the exact amount of oil kept and how much their oil tanks are worth. “Ever since 9/11, our security has heightened a lot,” Thompson said. “And frankly, the companies don’t want to talk about it a lot. We are one of the highest priorities in the country as far as terrorism, and as a result they try to kind of keep everything pretty low key – everything pretty close to the vest. You can see the construction and tell there’s a lot of activity, but as far as how many gallons they store, how many tanks they’re building, you’re not going to really hear a lot about it.” Threats and violence aren’t the only things Cushing has to worry about, however. Wherever large amounts of oil are stored, fires and spills are always a possibility. Because of this, Cushing’s fire department is unique compared to other small towns. In addition to the firefighter’s municipal training, they are also trained on how to put out industrial fires – oil fires of various sizes. These fires can range from smaller seal fires to much larger and deadlier surface fires. The oil companies in Cushing help supply equipment and money for these firefighters to be prepared in case of an oil emergency.

“We sent at least three guys a year to Beaumont, Texas, to the Williams Fire & Hazard Control, and we go down there for a week, once a year and go to school,” said Chris Pixler, the chief of Cushing’s 21-person fire department. “Actually, their school is set up for all the oil industries, so we go down there, and they learn tactics on tank fires, and they also learn tactics on processor fires or things you’d see in a refinery. The whole nine yards. We revolve three guys every year around that school, and that’s another group effort. The city of Cushing pays for transportation, meals and lodging. The oil companies pick up the tab for the school.” In addition to specialized training, the firefighters in Cushing have access to equipment designed to extinguish an oil fire. This large equipment is capable of releasing around 12,000 gallons of water per minute, depending on the size of the fire. The equipment is also designed to release a foam solution that extinguishes the fire. All the industrial equipment is paid for and given to the department by the oil companies themselves. “There’s three or four different companies here in town, TransCanada’s one of them, who provide us with special equipment in the case of an oil fire,” Pixler said. “They retain ownership of it. We provide knowledge, people and ability. They provide the foam, the pumps, the water and everything else we need.” The oil companies are also required to have ponds out by the tanks so the firefighters have easy access to water in case of an emergency. Although the firefighters are prepared in case of an oil fire, Pixler, who has worked in Cushing for 17 years, said such a case is very rare. He said Cushing averages about one oil fire every five years, and the city has yet

cushing: see page 34

16 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

Ebb & Flow

William Scheele stands in front of his barn on March 30. Scheele was born in Steele City and moved back in 2002. He is the mayor of Steele City and runs the post office.

Temporary pipeline workers boost Steele City’s dwindling community Story by James Pace-Cornsilk and Jacy Lewis | Photos by Brianna Soukup

n a quiet Nebraska town, tucked away off of Nebraska Highway 8 about 40 miles southwest of Beatrice, Neb., a large development with giant, metal tubes arching out of and into the ground is surrounded by a chain-link fence, every inch topped with razor wire. Signs posted along the fence display the logo of an oil company that has met opposition from many Nebraskans. Steele City, Neb., has arguably seen more of TransCanada’s pipeline construction than any other town in Nebraska. The town of about 84 people – though the locals say it’s more like 50 – hosts a large transfer station where the Keystone XL pipeline and the Cushing Extension connect. During new pipeline construction, floods of workers descend on the town, almost doubling its size. However, Steele City doesn’t share the same pipeline stories that have emerged from oil booms in states like North Dakota. “I’ve lived here my whole life, and my dad even had the pipeline on his land,” said Cheryl Scheele, who works in Lincoln but lives in Steele City. “(The pipeline) has come through here, and it’s only been for the good.” A local bar, The Salty Dog Saloon, is the only business in town. Increased traffic from pipeline workers transformed The Salty Dog Saloon from a dusty, smalltown bar with a few regulars to a gathering place for pipeline workers from all across the country, seeking the relief of a cold beer after a day’s work. “Oh yeah, we get really busy,” said Karen Harbey, a bartender at The Salty Dog Saloon. “Instead of

Tucker Goldsberry, 18, works in the kitchen at The Salty Dog Saloon in Steele City, Neb., March 30. Goldsberry is one of the only kids left in Steele City and has lived there all of his life. one person (in the kitchen) and one person (behind the bar), we’ll have at least two (in the kitchen) and two or three (behind the bar).” But it’s not just The Salty Dog Saloon that sees a spike in business. Pipeline workers often haul in RVs and set up at the camp site just behind the bar, where they pay a fee to live until their work in Steele City is complete. Those who don’t bring RVs often take up residence in motels in the surrounding towns of Fairbury and Beatrice. Steele City residents said construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and the Cushing Extension Pipeline has not only helped the town economically, it has also provided locals with jobs. “Local people, who might be

out of work right now, will get on the pipeline and end up going with them to the next locale, which has happened before,” Harbey said. John Speth, a Steele City native, said the transfer center in Steele City looked like “an eye sore” and “pollution.” But he is still in favor of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which will run from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada to Steele City, then south to the Texas coast. “I guess the station’s already there. I guess it’s going to get jobs and stuff,” Speth said. In addition to jobs, the residents said TransCanada always leaves the area in better condition. In cases where the pipeline crosses a resident’s land, Trans-

Canada sometimes make repairs and improves infrastructure. Tucker Goldsberry, an 18-yearold student at Diller-Odell High School and a cook at The Salty Dog Saloon, said one of the pipelines crossed his family’s property. The workers had to tear down a fence, but replaced it with better one. “Whatever they did, they would improve the property,” said Goldsberry, who has lived in Steele City his whole life. William Scheele, mayor of Steele City, said TransCanada improved the community building, used for special dinners or events. TransCanada paid to install bathrooms in the facility. Harbey told the story of a farmer who was compensated so heavily after TransCanada crossed his land that he didn’t have to farm for a year. Many residents agree that, besides the population and traffic increase while the pipeline workers are in town, Steele City hasn’t changed since TransCanada moved in. However, some have noticed a gradual decline in the city’s population, and with it, its life. “It really went to hell when the railroad pulled out their section gangs and all that,” Scheele said. Scheele has lived in Steele City for the majority of his life. “People got old, retired and never moved back,” he said. Scheele said the town used to have two banks, two grocery stores, a hardware store, drug store, hospital, schoolhouse and a lumberyard. But a lot of Steele City’s residents moved out when the railroad was completed, and the town began to see a decline in

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

an old broken swing hangs in the school yard of the abandoned school house in steele city, neb., March 30. The school has been abandoned for years, but many residents remember a time when steele city was a booming railroad town with a population of a couple hundred people.

population. “They just thinned it out, and nobody comes back,” said Scheele, who also runs the post office in town. Steele City made it onto the Nebraska map in 1873. It was named Steele City after St. Joseph & Denver City Railroad president Dudley M. Steele. The railroad was built through the town the preceding year. Steele City was a railroad town from the start, but reached its peak at around 400 people in 1890. The town had a school, mill, bank, a Baptist church and a Presbyterian church. The Baptist church, bank and school still stand, but are vacant. The Presbyterian church is still in use today and holds services on Sundays. NextEra Energy Resources, a Florida-based energy supplier, has proposed a wind farm near Steele City. The plan involves building 44 turbines in Jefferson and Gage County. According to a Feb. 18 article for Power Engineering magazine, construction could start this year if permits are approved. But despite these new opportuni-

They’ve torn so many of the houses down that were vacant. it doesn’t look like it used to at all. it’s kind of sad.”

Cheryl SCheele steele city resident

ties, Steele City’s population is shrinking. Cheryl Scheele, William Scheele’s daughter, said Steele City has a lot of older citizens, and when people move away, no one moves in to take their place. “They’ve torn so many of the houses down that were vacant,” Scheele said. “It doesn’t look like it used to at all. It’s kind of sad.” Although Cheryl Scheele works at the Department of Health and Human Services in Lincoln, she doesn’t think

she will move out of Steele City. Cheryl Scheele said she likes rural areas, Steele City in particular. “People here are loyal, it’s a very friendly community,” Scheele said. “If somebody needs help getting something done, people will step in and help them.” Maybe it’s this type of atmosphere that draws TransCanada workers to join the community. Cheryl Scheele said she developed friendships with pipeline workers. They were polite and respectful to the local people, she said. Workers would even help Steele City citizens with everyday tasks, such as hauling heavy loads. “If you had a bar full of people, they would buy rounds for the house,” Cheryl Scheele said. “They spent their money.” When their work is done in Steele City, and the workers ship out to the next location. Cheryl Scheele said it gets lonely around town. “It’s nice to have people come through and see new

steele city: See page 36

18 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

path to a pipeline

story by Cristina woodworth, andrew barry and Gabriella martinezGarro photos by Kat buChanan

Gulf Coast pipeline paves the way for Keystone Xl ConstruCtion

s the debate over the Keystone XL pipeline project rages on in the northern half of the United States, construction on the southern half of the project is already in full swing. Construction on the lower half of the pipeline, also known as the Gulf Coast pipeline project, has affected the cities and towns along the pipeline route in a number of ways, with the city of Cushing, Okla., experiencing a fair amount of the impact. The Gulf Coast pipeline will run 485 miles from Nederland, Texas, to Cushing, and construction is already nearly two-thirds complete, according to Shawn Howard, a spokesman for TransCanada Corporation. Howard said the Gulf Coast pipeline has employed more than 4,000 workers in construction and manufacturing positions since the project began in August 2012. Brent Thompson, executive director of Cushing’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the pipeline construction has brought an influx of workers to the city of nearly 8,000 people. “Last year, we added probably 10 to 12 new (construction) companies,” Thompson said. “That is significant growth in business, but of those 10 or 12, probably eight of them were pipeline-affiliated in some form or another. We have a lot of seasonal folks, people who are transient in nature but are welders, tank-fitters, pipe-fitters, and they will be gone at some point.” Cushing is already an oil storage powerhouse in the U.S., with an assortment of tanks that were holding nearly 40 million barrels of oil as of March 2012, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The city has the potential to store more than 60 million barrels. The city’s role as an oil stronghold comes from its convenient positioning along existing pipeline routes to receive oil from both the refineries in the Gulf Coast as well as from interior states like North Dakota. The Keystone XL and Gulf Coast pipeline projects will include the creation of seven new tanks to increase the oil storage even more in Cushing. Thompson said the temporary workers who came to Cushing for pipeline construction work have an effect on the city. “Part of our problem as a community is that we are gaining a lot of employees, but we are not gaining a lot of residents,” Thompson said. “We don’t have a lot of places for a lot of them to live, so consequently, they are moving to Stillwater, they are moving to Chandler, they are moving to Stroud — any place they can find a place to live.” TransCanada was able to begin construction on the southern half of the pipeline last year after it acquired all of the necessary federal permits. The northern half of the pipeline, which would run 1,179 miles from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Neb., still requires a presidential permit because it crosses the border between Canada and the U.S. David Dodson, a TransCanada communications representative, said the construction process for the project is unique compared to other projects. “You have to think of it as being something like an assembly line, but it’s the line that moves,” Dodson said. Dodson said construction on the pipeline often takes place simultaneously in different areas along the route to speed up the construction process. The Gulf Coast pipeline project will be constructed in six different spreads, ranging from 47 to 99

Linda, a construction worker for the Plains All American Pipeline company, takes a smoke break on the outskirts of one of many Plains pipeline construction sites on April 1 in Cushing, Okla.

An exposed stretch of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline is visible on the TransCanada construction site in southern Cushing, Okla. miles in length, according to a U.S. Department of State report on the project. Pipeline construction has 19 different stages, beginning with surveying and staking out the land to replacing the origi-

nal topsoil, final cleanup and restoration, according to documents provided by TransCanada. Other steps include digging the 4-foot-deep trenches to house the pipeline and lowering the 36-inch-diameter steel pipe sections into those trenches. As different sections of the pipeline are completed, many of the construction workers move with the project, settling down temporarily in the cities and towns located along the route. Dodson said it usually takes about two or three months to complete a section of the pipeline. “I got a feeling (the workers) wouldn’t appreciate being called transient,” Dodson said. “They are construction workers and they follow where the construction is.” Construction workers on the pipeline generally work 10hour days, five to six days a week, according to Dodson. A number of factors can slow down pipeline construction, with weather being a primary deterrent, Dodson said. “We’ve had more problems with rain than with protestors,” he said. “Because rain affects whole sections of the pipeline. We’ve had much worse delay problems with the weather.” The Gulf Coast pipeline is scheduled to be in service by the end of 2013. The pipeline will have the potential to transport 830,000 barrels of oil a day to Gulf Coast refineries, according to information provided by TransCanada. news@ dailynebrasKan.Com

dailynebraskan.com

Monday, april 15, 2013

Last resort Yankton Sioux launch Protect the Sacred campaign story by James Pace-Cornsilk

aith Spotted Eagle and her tribe, the Ihanktonwan, or the Yankton Sioux, tried to convince TransCanada to consult the tribe about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. No luck. They tried to appeal to the U.S. Department of State. No luck. After receiving only polite reassurance that the tribe’s complaints will be dealt with, the Ihanktonwan organized a strategy they believe is the last resort. They are going to physically blockade the pipeline. The first meeting for the Protect the Sacred campaign, which is leading the effort to create an international treaty among indigenous nations against the pipeline, was held in January. Protect the Sacred held a follow-up meeting April 5 through 7 to teach participants “non-violent direct action” and “tactics of blockage” to keep the Keystone XL pipeline, a project they believe has violated several pieces of legislation, off their land. “If tribes protest, they’re taking food off tables of others,” said Lou Thompson, TransCanada’s primary Native American spokesman. “There are people who are relying on the project to put food on the table.” Behind the talks of protest, the Yankton Sioux feel driven to combat the project. Their inspiration: a tangled web of 19th century treaties countered with pivotal court cases, which belittle the treaties’ power. Spotted Eagle and John Wright, both members of the Yankton Sioux tribe, said the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie is being broken. “(The Constitution) is still being used today,” said Wright, a member of the Ihanktonwan Treaty Council. “So why can’t historical documents important as nation-tonation treaties, why can’t they still be in effect?” Article 2 of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie states that the land outlined is “set apart for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Indians herein named,” and the United States relinquishes “all claims or right in

“That should blow your mind,” and to any portion of the United Eaglewoman said. States or Territories.” In addition to breaking the 1868 Article 6 of the United States Treaty of Fort Laramie, Spotted EaConstitution states “and all Treagle said TransCanada and the U.S. ties made, or which shall be made, government are blatantly violating under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act passed the Land.” on Nov. 16, 1990. The regulations The Treaty of Fort Laramie apoutlined in Section 3, which deals plied to the western half of South Dakota, northwest corner of Ne- with intentional excavation of Nabraska, northeast corner of Wyo- tive Americans remains, states, “such items are ming and small secexcavated or retions of Southwestern Keystone moved after conNorth Dakota and sultation with or, Southeastern Monis violating in the case of tribal tana. The Keystone lands, consent of XL pipeline would and going the appropriate (if cross these lands in to interrupt any) Indian tribe or Montana and South thousands of Native Hawaiian Dakota. organization.” “The way we see it, cultural sites “There is no they haven’t consultdoubt that we ed with the councils along this roamed all of this themselves,” Wright corridor, and we area,” Spotted Easaid. “They need to gle said. “So Keycome to us. That’s our can’t have that.” stone is violating treaty territory.” While no legislaFaith Spotted Eagle and going to interihanktonwan tribe rupt thousands of tion has been passed cultural sites along to nullify the treaty, this corridor, and landmark cases such we can’t have that. That’s just not as the 1903 Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock possible.” decision, as well as the Marshall The Supplemental Environmentrilogy, have diminished its importal Impact Statement, prepared by tance. the Department of State, outlined Ramona Skinner, in her review its accordance with NAGPRA and of the book “Lone Wolf v. Hitchlisted the Yankton Sioux as one cock: Treaty Rights and Indian Law at the End of the Nineteenth Centu- of the 95 tribes it consulted about dealing with remains found. The ry” by Blue Clark, explains that this document lists 178 phone calls, case “has been cited often in federal emails and letters, but only four Indian law for its proposition that meetings. However, Spotted Eagle Congress has plenary power over and Wright noted that a consultaNative peoples and may abrogate tion does not mean their people an Indian treaty at will.” support the project. Angelique EagleWoman, an as“Every single time we have sociate professor of law at the Uniever gone face-to-face with them versity of Idaho, said the Supreme we told them that this was not a Court rulings have made Article consultation, that we didn’t agree 6 of the Constitution not apply with what they were doing, and to treaties with Native American they needed to come and talk to tribes. Furthermore, Native Ameriour people, and they’ve never done can tribes are not considered a forthat,” Spotted Eagle said. “Why eign nation - the Supreme Court has stated they are domestic depen- would we want to consult on something that we have no power? It’s dent nations - making them unable like living in a country where you to bring a suit as a foreign nation. have no power over anything.” This makes tribes essentially powerless to the U.S. government, according to Eaglewoman. NATIVE AMERICANS: see page 42

boom or

bust Temporary oil jobs leave towns in limbo story by jacy lewis

or some Nebraskans, the Keystone XL pipeline means little more than newspaper headlines and distant protests. But for the residents of the small towns along the proposed route, the pipeline could mean boom or bust. Oil towns in North Dakota paint a picture of what may come to pass for Nebraska communities that lie in the projected path. After an oil boom in 2008, North Dakota towns saw population increases and resource shortages due to the installation of oil rigs. According to the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources website, the state currently has 186 active rigs. The rigs initially needed workers, but small towns in North Dakota didn’t have large enough populations. So the towns became rest stops for workers from across the country. These workers weren’t looking for permanent homes, however. New residents went as quickly as they came. The Keystone XL pipeline already exists in the eastern part of Nebraska and runs through Hartington, Stanton, David City, Wilbur and Steele City. TransCanada said the proposed extension could create 13,000 construction jobs. During construction of the existing pipeline, some Nebraska towns saw economic benefit. Workers would come to town and spend money, while TransCanada purchased gas from the local gas station. Once the workers leave, however, the money goes with them. Al Moravec, a farmer who lives near David City, Neb., remembers the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline well. The pipeline ended up going through a large part of the land he owns. “It went through five of our farms, so I don’t know if that was luck or not,” Moravec said. David City is the county seat of Butler County and has an estimated 2,871 people. Moravec remembers the crews being “very professional” and “good about their word.” David City flourished while the workers were there, he said. “They got some economic benefit from selling fuel, there were huge machines,” Moravec said. “They brought out food to the workers from the town. A lot of times they would order everything and bring it out and sometimes there were over a 100 people at one site.” The only problem Moravec encountered with the crews was a conflicting schedule with his work and the pipeline’s deadlines. “It was a nuisance during construction. They didn’t care what time of the year it was because they had to keep going,” Moravec said. “We were disrupted quite a bit during the construction process.” But TransCanada has been reliable with the upkeep of the land, Moravec said. If washouts or other minor problems occurred on the land, they would either send a crew to fix it or ask him to hire someone and TransCanada would foot the bill. Residents of O’Neill, Neb., a town of about 3,693, worry about the Ogallala Aquifer and the chemicals that

BOOM TOWNS: see page 43

20 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

larry cudaback and his wife, bonnie, pose outside their home in exeter, neb., on March 15. the proposed route of the keystone xl pipeline runs through their farm land outside of town.

Promised land exeter landowners question p ip elin e co Mp e ns at ion, cro p s a f e t y

sTorY BY Jordan HUesers | PHoTos BY BeTHanY sCHmidT

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

n the larger story of the Keystone XL pipeline, there are thousands of smaller stories, of towns and of job opportunities and of the land itself: Nebraska farmland. Larry Cudaback, 73, grew up on a farm in Exeter, Neb., land his parents owned since the 1940s. Now, Larry and his two brothers take care of the property. The farm lies about four miles northwest of Larry’s home where he lives with his wife, Bonnie, 71, and where their nine grandchildren often visit. TransCanada plans to place a segment of the Keystone XL pipeline, 36 inches in diameter, under Larry’s and other Exeter residents’ property. “This started about, gee, four or five years ago now,” he said. “They’ve drug it out and drug it out.” David Dodson, senior communications representative for TransCanada said the best way to design a pipeline is in a straight path, but the company typically deviates from potential environmental, geographical or geological concerns. Once they develop a layout, representatives approach the landowners.

On the DOtteD Line

Larry and Bonnie first received word of the plans for pipeline installation via a letter from TransCanada. Larry said many different employees of the company visited the town to observe the land and talk with residents. Residents who owned land the pipeline would cross were asked to sign an easement, agreeing to the action. “(TransCanada) kind of said if you don’t get signed up, you know, they’re capable of taking the domain anyway,” Larry said. Bonnie added she felt, as property owners, they didn’t really have a choice in the matter. ”That’s the way they put it,” she said. “They put a lot of pressure on you.” Dodson said TransCanada begins the negotiation process at fair market value. “It’s not a cookie cutter process; every negotiation is distinct,” Dodson said. “We look at what is the value of the farm.” Throughout the past few years, the Cudabucks attended many meetings in cities, such as Lincoln and York, regarding the TransCanada construction. They said until attending meetings, they didn’t realize how many problems could be caused with the pipeline. Milligan, Neb., resident Mel Taylor also owns property in Exeter, but the potential pipeline would not affect his land. The original route for the pipeline intersected his property, but was changed for a reason that, to Taylor, remains unconfirmed. He said he suspects the change was prompted because his land is a wetland area and, therefore, environmentally sensitive. “I never said anything to them, and they never said anything to me,” Taylor said. “Just, one day I found out that they had moved the route around. It’s just as much a mystery with me as it is with anybody else. They didn’t communicate with me very well, no.” Taylor also said he thought most members of the community felt forced to sign the easement, which, during construction, gives TransCanada right-of-way to land within 110 feet of the pipeline. After completion, TransCanada would maintain a permanent right-of-way width of 50 feet. “A lot of people just kind of gave up and said, ‘Well, it’s got to happen,’” Taylor said. “So they just (went) ahead and signed.” The Cudabacks were among the first to sign a contract, showing some support for the pipeline, noting that the length of pipeline in Dorchester, Neb., about 20 miles from them, is well hidden. If people didn’t know there was a pipeline, they wouldn’t be able to tell, they said. “(The people who installed this pipeline) did a nice job,” Larry said. “They take care of things. It doesn’t really create any problems that way.”

construction of the proposed pipeline would require crews to dig up land in cudaback’s fields to bury the 3-foot-wide pipe below ground.

MOney Matters

Larry said the topic of compensation was brought up countless times. At the meetings, he suggested TransCanada pay landowners for the pipeline, similar to people with wind farms. For every year the land is used for the pipeline, the property owner makes money. But Dodson said landowners will be compensated for their property one time, not yearly. “You should get a payment for every year because it is pumping oil every day, and so you should have a little compensation that doesn’t have to be anything big,” Larry said. “But (TransCanada) are going to make a fortune off of it. And that (compensation) was a big thing (at the meetings), but it never got anywhere.” Some residents still haven’t signed the easement, according to Larry. But because land prices have nearly tripled since the beginning of the proposal, he said people who’ve waited to sign the contract will receive more compensation. “That part is kind of silly,” he said. “If that thing lasts 50 years, what’s going to be the land price?” ‪Although he sees the possible benefits for schools and counties from the taxation created by the pipeline, Taylor said he also believes there are some downfalls, for property owners specifically. “I personally don’t feel like the landowners were compensated as much as they should be for having somebody run a pipeline through your land and then use it for an undetermined number of years,” he said. Dodson said typically a pipeline lasts 30 years, but a well-maintained pipeline could function longer. The easement landowners sign is perpetual, and if the landowner sells the land, the easement will transfer. Larry was unable to recall the exact amount of compensation, but said TransCanada gave a certain amount of money per 100 feet of pipeline going through a certain number of acres of land. Larry said he spoke

to the TransCanada representatives about how he thought they should be compensating him more fairly, and they raised the dollar amount from what they had originally proposed. As for restrictions on the transferred land, Dodson said landowners cannot plant deep-rooted plants, such as trees or grape vines, along the area of the pipeline because such plants could compromise the pipe. Also, TransCanada prohibits landowners from building any structures on top of the pipeline in case the company needs to operate.

the LanD anD a Leak

Another major topic of conversation at these meetings revolved around the issue of contaminated water. Larry said people are arguing about what communities would do for an alternate water supply in case of a leak. “They say that (a leak) isn’t going to happen,” he said. “But you know darn good and well that there’s going to (be) a leak somewhere. They’re supposedly going to check it every week or whatever. But they are liable to fix it if something happens.” Larry said if the water were to be contaminated, a community would not be able to drink it or pump it onto the property. Larry suggested TransCanada use a heavier pipe through the areas with a high water table, but he has never heard any discussion of that. ”Like I said, here (in Exeter) it wouldn’t affect (the water), it’d be the dirt. They could dig the dirt out and change that,” he said. “But you don’t do that with water.” However, Larry said a leak underground would ruin the crops. “(The crops) won’t withstand oil,” Larry said. “(TransCanada) would then have to come in and tear it all up again and fix it. And you’re going to have it messed up that way because you aren’t going to have any crop where they tear (the land) out.” Larry, who alternates between growing beans and corn, irrigates his land with pivots and said he can see potential problems if the

pivots are prevented from crossing the pipe. “If the pivot don’t get across it, and the ground don’t get water and the field don’t get watered much,” Larry said, “that will create a bigger problem because it won’t get moisture.” Larry said a smooth operation depends on when TransCanada installs the pipeline and how long it will take. “If they come through while we are planting, that is going to be a disaster because we won’t get in the field for quite some time,” Larry said. “So, that could screw up everything pretty bad, depending on what time of the year,” he said. “Or harvest time. They would really put a monkey wrench in it that way.” Dodson added landowners are not able to plant crops for a year or two in most instances, and TransCanada compensates the landowners for the crops lost during that period.

Waiting gaMe

While initially optimistic, Larry said his feelings have shifted throughout the process of watching politicians squabble over the project. He was told TransCanada was going to have the pipeline running more than two years ago, but they haven’t started yet. “I think they might as well just get going and quit messing around; the politics just hee-haw around,” he said. “This could have been done a long time ago. Either say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and then forget it. So you wonder what else is involved in the whole thing.” Larry said community residents questioned why there hasn’t been much progress, but “people just don’t say much (about the pipeline) anymore.” As of early 2013, Larry and Bonnie said they don’t have a definitive stance on the pipeline proposal anymore but are thinking what most others are: “Why don’t we get it going?” Larry said. “Why don’t we get it over with? Let’s get it done.” keLLi rOLLin cOntributeD tO this repOrt. neWs@ DaiLynebraskan.cOM

GREEN

BLACK SAFETY & THE PIPELINE

24 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

Rabbits shouldn’t be harmed by pipeline construction, according to Mike Fritz, a zoologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Their active nature allows them to move away from any disruption of the land.

down the rabbit hole rabbits, other small animals will adapt, stay safe during pipeline construction story by tammy bain | courtesy photo by nebraskaland magazine/nebraska game and parks commission

eystone XL pipeline construction across Nebraska won’t hurt rabbits or other small-to-mediumsized species, said Mike Fritz, a zoologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. While the construction will disrupt vegetation, including rabbits’ habitats, the animals will instinctively leave the area, Fritz said. “Because they’re active, they’re able to, by and large, leave the area,” he said. But smaller bunnies that are unable to leave the nests, as well as small field mice, will most likely be killed with the construction, he said. “It’s the same way with any construction,” Fritz said. The older, more mobile rabbits will flee their habitats, create new homes and probably even return after construction ends, Fritz said. “Rabbits are adaptable,” he said. “They aren’t threatened in any respect.” The rabbits can go as far as 700 yards from their original habitats to more than a quarter mile away, Fritz said. Once the rabbits are in their new homes, their young will move out on their own and become independent. “Family units don’t stay together,” Fritz said. “It’s an

feel more comfortable and be more accustomed to things opportunity to move away.” Not all rabbits are from the same kind of land, Fritz like construction, he said. It’s the rabbits that live in grasslands that are “more disturbed,” Fritz said. said. Eastern Cottontail will settle in any kind of grassGrady Semmens, a communications specialist for land, including native prairie or bromegrass. TransCanada, said even when pipeline Native prairie land is more drought-tolerconstruction is over, the company will ant and is typically a warm-season grass, he work to ensure that land is restored back said, so it grows in the summer. Bromegrass Rabbits are to its original state. is drier in the summer, grows in the spring adaptable. He said TransCanada will pay for reand fall and is less drought-tolerant, Fritz planting both private-owned and wild said. They aren’t lands. The time it could take the rabbits to return It’s one of the first steps in planning after construction depends on the season, threatened in any a route, Semmens said, to take biological Fritz said. It also depends on the growing respect.” surveys and learn what species live in cerseason. In a good precipitation year, rabbits miKe fritz tain areas. TransCanada also works with will return to their original habitats sooner, nebraska zoologist government agencies to make sure all as it takes less time to grow the disrupted land and species are back to their original vegetation back. states once construction ends, he said. Bromegrass can take about two years to “There’s a lot of work that has to be done in advance,” grow back, while native prairie will take three to four he said. “It’s taken into consideration.” years, Fritz said. A drier land can take as long as six years. news@ “Rabbits will go away as far as they feel comfortable,” dailynebraskan.com he said. A cottontail rabbit that lives closer to a city will

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

A bold OPPOSITION Jane kleeb’s bold nebraska continues fight against pipeline sTory by nedU iZU | File pHoTo by MorGan spieHs

or as long as she can remember, Jane Kleeb has been passionate about everything she does. The trait’s been a part of her since she was a little girl. “I don’t think anybody in my life would say I’m laid back,” Kleeb said. “I’m a perfectionist.” So it’s no surprise that the Democrat’s bold attitude led her to founding an organization opposing the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. In 2010, Kleeb formed an activist group called BOLD Nebraska to combat TransCanada Corporation’s 2008 proposal for a 1,179-mile oil transportation route stretching from Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Neb. “It’s our belief that, too often, very conservative voices are speaking for Nebraska,” Kleeb said. “This pipeline crosses over 200 bodies of water in Nebraska alone. It will devastate the family’s private well. We needed more progressive voices speaking for our state. That’s why we started Bold.” Three years ago, the North American energy company proposed a new pipeline project that would run through the Nebraska Sandhills – the largest sand-dune area in the Western Hemisphere. The sand dune is home to numerous plants and wildlife, including deer, coyotes and several diverse fish species. However, controversy over the proposal arose among residents in rural Nebraska because the natural landmark also provides fresh water from the Ogallala Aquifer to 85 percent of Nebraskans. Kleeb said the cleanup would be near impossible. “There’s no way you can clean the well,” she said. “It will devastate the family farming ranch forever.” Keystone XL would run through 275 miles in Nebraska and cross through 14 counties: Boone, Fillmore, Garfield, Greeley, Hamilton, Holt, Jefferson, Keya Paha, Merrick, Nance, Rock, Saline, Wheeler and York. Landowners should be concerned about the proposal because leaks could affect so many citizens, said Chelsea Johnson. The BOLD Nebraska intern from Wayne State College said past spills are a good predictor of what could be to come if the project comes to fruition. “Pipelines leak all the time,” Johnson said. “Many times, those leaks are very large and devastating to the people that live near or far from where it happens.” In 2010, an Enbridge energy company pipeline rupture leaked more than 800,000 gallons of U.S. crude oil in Marshall, Mich. The largest inland oil spill in Midwest history contaminated the Kalamazoo River, according to Enbridge. “They’re still cleaning that up,” Johnson said. The most recent oil spill was March 29 in Arkansas when ExxonMobile’s Pegasus pipeline dispensed between 4,000 and 7,000

Jane kleeb, the executive director of bold nebraska, has been leading the fight against the keystone Xl pipeline. The group has had several protests in nebraska and in Washington. Their next protest will be in Grand island during the public hearing.

i’m a fighter. i consider myself a fierce advocate and i don’t back down from anything.” JANe kleeb

founder of bold nebraska

barrels of heavy Canadian crude oil in the town of Mayflower, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. About 20 suburban homes were evacuated as oil flowed through the streets. TransCanada predicts the Keystone XL will spill .22 times a year, according to 2011 data. However, historical data indicates an average of 1.82 spills a year, according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor John Stansbury’s analysis. Stansbury is an associate professor and interim chairperson of civil engineering. The potential ramifications of spills are reason enough for farmers and landowners to oppose TransCanada’s proposal, Kleeb said.

“The way the contract is written by TransCanada is very one-sided,” she said. “It places a bunch of responsibilities on the farmer and ranches. It would cost millions of dollars for the pipeline to shut down to fix it. “We’re not an oil state; we’re an agricultural state.” BOLD Nebraska hasn’t been subtle about its opposition to the pipeline. The non-profit organization has protested the XL proposal at least eight times in the last two years, according to Johnson. On Feb. 17, BOLD Nebraska took part in the Forward on Climate Rally in Washington, D.C. The protest had an estimated 40,000 participants.

“It was awesome,” Johnson said. “It was covered by all the press. I think we got our point across to the people that we’re there, and it definitely built resilience.” Although the proposal has remained up in the air for more than four years, Johnson said she’s stuck by BOLD Nebraska with good reason. “I often get asked why I’ve been fighting this project for four years,” she said. “I’m a fighter. I consider myself a fierce advocate and I don’t back down from anything.” Johnson said she’s felt strongly about the pipeline since she began her internship in 2010. She hopes she’s not the only one. “For students that want to stay in Nebraska, this should be a big concern for them,” she said. “We’re going to be the next generation this pipeline effects. Climate change is already a big deal and it’ll be more so when we’re older. “That’s why I care about it so much.” news@ dailynebraskan.com

26 MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

What lies

Ogallala Aquifer expert James Goeke says pipeline will not threaten Nebraska water supply, but not everyone is convinced

OGALLALA AQUIFER

hen James Goeke stood in western Nebraska for the first time, he thought it was the most desolate and desperate place he’d ever been. This was 1970 and Goeke had just joined the team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Conservation and Survey Division where he still works as a hydrologist. He never would have guessed it, but someday he would own a chunk of western Nebraska and cherish it as much as any person could. Scattered around the state are close to 6,000 holes each about 5 inches in diameter drilled to the base of the Ogallala Aquifer. During the 1970s, Goeke drilled about 1,000 of those holes in the deepest part of the aquifer. “I’ve seen more Ogallala than anybody else certainly in the Conservation and Survey Division,” he said. The Ogallala Aquifer is 174,000 square miles of water-bearing sediment under Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – one of the largest in the world. The largest and deepest portion of the aquifer is in Nebraska. For a sense of how much water is really there, imagine this: Since the first use of the aquifer for farmland irrigation, Nebraskans have used less than half of 1 percent of their portion of the aquifer. When TransCanada proposed the original Keystone XL pipeline route in May 2010, the Ogallala Aquifer, named for a site three miles east of Ogallala, Neb., caused a storm of great concern among scientists, activists, farmers, landowners and conservationists. Groups formed for the sole purpose of fighting the pipeline’s creation. Politicians demanded more information for their constituents. Protestors marched on Washington. Goeke picked up his phone and called TransCanada, firing off every relevant question he could think of. After all, he knew what he was asking about. He has drilled more holes, a process that holds great importance in a range of scientific and economic decisions, in the Ogallala Aquifer than any other person. He said TransCanada could answer every question and was honest and forthcoming. That didn’t immediately quiet all his reluctance, so he continued his research until he came to a conclusion: The Keystone XL pipeline is not a serious threat to the Ogallala Aquifer. “A lot of people in the debate about the pipeline talk about how leakage would foul the water and ruin the entire water supply in the state of Nebraska and that’s just a false,” he said. His explanation is simple. Seventy-five to 80 percent of the aquifer lies west of the proposed pipeline route. The aquifer is sloped downward going east. If there were a spill, that entire section is unavailable to be harmed because water cannot move uphill. The 15 to 20 percent left, Goeke says, is in very little risk thanks to abundant fine-grain clays, sediment and sandstone separating the aquifer and potential contaminants from the pipeline. While Goeke agrees 20 percent would be a problem, he thinks the chances of a leak reaching the aquifer are very minimal. “It can’t get down to the water table because of the nature of the sediments in the unsaturated zone,” he said. Goeke likens pipelines to the fear of flying. “You’re flying at 30,000 feet going 500 miles an hour, and you don’t have a parachute, and that plane can crash,” Goeke said. “Pipelines in Nebraska are similar to flying airplanes. They get the job done, and sometimes the plane might crash. But overall, they’re safe, and I think that pipelines are similarly safe.” Still, as Goeke mentioned, a plane can crash. And a pipeline can leak. So even if the leak were minor, it would not be easy to handle, he said. Groups such as BOLD Nebraska and the Sierra Club have focused on those metaphoric plane crashes, though, in their opposition to the pipeline. They oppose it for many reasons, including the risk of a spill into the Ogallala Aquifer and the delicate Sandhills that cover northern Nebraska. “One of the reasons we have such a concern for it is because of the fact

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

beneath that the area most highly impacted is an area where there is porous soils, and it’s easy for contaminants, or any fluid, to get into the aquifer – including what will be found in the pipeline,” said Ken Winston, a policy advocate at the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club. Winston said the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy organization, opposed the Keystone XL pipeline from the very day TransCanada proposed the route. He cites three reasons, in addition to the risk of polluting the Ogallala Aquifer for the opposition: the tar sands process, TransCanada’s treatment of Nebraska landowners and TransCanada’s track record for spills. After initial concern from Nebraskans and Republican Gov. Dave Heineman, TransCanada proposed a revised route in September 2012. The new route avoids the Sandhills, where the most delicate sands and a high water table could struggle to contain a spill. Heineman has since approved the new route and sent a letter to President Obama urging him to approve the pipeline. The area of concern is in southwest Holt County. While the revised pipeline goes around the border of the Sandhills, it has been pushed farther into and with greater distance across Holt County, where the water table isn’t quite as high. Goeke said Holt County still has relatively high water tables, 20-30 feet below the earth’s surface, but that “the materials are clay enough that they would attenuate any leakage.” The only area of concern regarding water pollution, according to Goeke, occurs where the pipeline will have to be pulled under the Platte River and through the 12-mile-wide valley, where the water table is high or near the earth’s surface. The solution will be to pull the pipelines 40 feet below the bed of the Platte River, where Niobrara shale, an impermeable stone, will separate the pipeline from the water supply. In that area, the pipeline will also be double its original thickness, lined in rubber and cased in cement. Extra valves will also be added to ensure any leak could be shut off. “It’s going to be well-protected,” Goeke said. Winston isn’t convinced. He said TransCanada’s definition of the boundaries of the Sandhills changed since the revised route. “TransCanada proposed map in 2008 that included an area they now say is outside the Sandhills,” he said. “Their own representation should control what they define as the Sandhills. The Sandhills issue has not been resolved. I don’t believe peoples’ concerns have been addressed.” Goeke said a spill in the Sandhills, although messy, would be localized. “Even if you put the pipeline through the Sandhills, which they aren’t, the materials would immediately restrict leakage and TransCanada could clean up any spills,” Goeke said. Regardless of the risk of the pipeline, Julene Bair thinks Nebraskans are overlooking some important details. Bair, author of “One Degree West: Reflections of a Plainsdaughter” and “The Ogallala Road,” set to release in 2014, wrote an op-ed for The New York Times regarding Nebraskans’ worries of the oil polluting their aquifer when they themselves are polluting the aquifer with industrial farming chemicals. “I wish all the attention the Ogallala Aquifer is getting because of the pipeline extended to industrial agriculture,” she said. Ninety percent of shallow groundwater samples from the Ogallala contained nitrate, according to a 2009 report by the U.S. Geological Survey. Nitrate and other chemicals such as atrazine, a popular herbicide, trickle through sediment with rain, making a slow but apparent journey into groundwater. The levels of industrial chemicals are below the levels allowed by the government, but are increasing at what is called “creeping normalcy.” Patrick O’Brien with the Nebraska Association of Natural Resources Districts also said the biggest contamination to the Ogallala Aquifer is nitrates, which can be sourced to fertilizers and waste. “To manage (high nitrate levels), all of the districts have developed a ground water-management plan, which will layout triggers and then

oGallala: see page 43

Story by Shelby Fleig and Kyle Cummings Photos by Stuart McKay Graphic by Gabriel Sanchez

James Goeke stands in front of a drill stem at the east campus annex on Friday. The retired hydrogeologist worked in north platte from 1976-2011 drilling test holes to sample the water supply.

28 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

‘It’s still not cleaned up and probably never will be’ Enbridge, Inc. continues clean-up operations on Michigan’s Kalamazoo River Story by Jordan Huesers | Courtesy photos

n July 26, 2010, an estimated 20,082 barrels of crude oil – that’s 843,444 gallons – poured into the Kalamazoo River in Marshall, Mich. The National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Pipeline Safety still don’t know why. The pipeline that leaked is owned and operated by Enbridge Inc., a pipeline transport company based in Calgary, Alberta. A leak was found on Line 6B of Enbridge Partners’ Lakehead System, according to its website dedicated to the leak. The cleanup cost is estimated at $725 million. The NTSB said in a 2012 press release this is the costliest on-shore cleanup in U.S. history. Within one hour of being alerted, the company sent emergency crews to start containing the spilled oil, according to Enbridge’s site. About 2,000 to 2,500 workers endeavored to contain the oil at the height of the incident. Today, Enbridge continues to work on cleanup operations on the river and the river banks. “They stated they would be able to clean that spill up in a few months – months,” said John Stansbury, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “And it’s been something like three years now. It’s still not cleaned up and probably never will be.” When Enbridge will be finished with the cleanup process remains uncertain. “It’s obvious that these pipelines have major spills from time to time and can cause significant environmental and potentially human health problems,” Stansbury said. “These spills are not cleaned up nearly as easily or as readily as the oil companies and pipeline companies claim they can be.”

THE RESPONSE

Jason Manshum, an Enbridge spokesman, said the vast majority of the recoverable oil was removed in the first two to three months after the incident. He said 2010 and 2011 were both identified by very aggressive recovery efforts. During those years, Enbridge tried to recover as much oil as possible in the river, river bottom and in the overall watershed. At the beginning of 2012, the cleanup efforts shifted to a more passive approach, which Manshum said would be less invasive to the natural environment. Clean-up efforts focused on sediment collection and removal of sheen – the thin layer of oil that settles on top of water. “Any time you have an area in the river where sheen would occur on the surface, we had sweep boats on the river, and we would remove it,” Manshum said. “We not only recovered our sheen but also naturally occurring sheen. Sheen can occur in about any body of water.” Manshum said the biggest challenge has been the fact that the river in 2010 was at its 100-year flood stage. This means areas of the river that were ordinarily 5 to 6 feet across were, at the time, hundreds of feet across. “It affected a larger footprint because of that flux stage than it would have otherwise,” Manshum said. Also because of the flood, there were more organic materials such as leaves and twigs in the river. The oil that should be easily removed in the first few months attached itself to those materials and then sank.

THE EFFECTS

Angela Minicuci, a public information officer for the Michigan Department of Community Health, said MDCH has completed multiple public health assessments after the oil spill, testing drinking water wells, submerged oil and oil on the surface. The most current report, drinking water wells, was released a few weeks ago. “The most significant thing that we found is that the majority of the oil spill will not have any long-term, detrimental effect,” Minicuci said. “It won’t have any longterm effects at all. If you come in contact with the oil, there’s a good chance someone will develop skin irritation, which is a short-term effect, but just simply washing your hands or your skin with warm water and soap would get rid of that.” Minicuci said there were no oil-related chemicals in the water wells. “We did some reports right after the spill in 2010 to look at the acute effects just then,” she said. “We evaluated oil on the surface as well as submerged. That’s all been within the past year, so we’ve been monitoring this not only recently but since the oil spill occurred in 2010.” The Kalamazoo River is now open for recreational use. Minicuci said today, MDCH is looking at air contamination. With every public health assessment, any comment raised by the community is responded to or explained in a final report, Minicuci said. “We had a wide variety of comments and questions and concerns come to the department based on the assessments that we’ve done,” she said. “And we’ve addressed each and every one of them in all of our final reports.”

The Ceresco Dam during river rehabilitation on Oct. 8, 2010.

MOVING FORWARD

Manshum said Enbridge made a commitment to return the river to the community in good shape. “That commitment has not changed,” Manshum said. “We are very pleased that we have been able to progress to the point of opening the river, but we will be here until the job is done. We are still moving toward that goal.” Stansbury said major spills, like in the Kalamazoo River and others around the country, should be a factor in determining whether to approve the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline. “The approval or disapproval of the pipelines is more largely political than scientifically based,” he said. “It’s mostly political, I am afraid.” Last fall, Enbridge received a proposed order from the EPA saying it wanted Enbridge to do more dredging in specific locations of the river. Last winter, the EPA and Enbridge met to do basic studies over the affected area. In March, the proposed order turned into an administrative order. Enbridge has said it will comply, and according to Manshum, the company is in the process of developing the work plan. If the Department of Environmental Quality approves the work plan and the state of Michigan approves the work permits, Manshum predicted the dredging would likely begin in the summer. NEWS@ DAIlyNEbRASkAN.COM

A painted turtle fully emerges from its shell on March 30, 2010. The turtle incubated for 50 days and is one of many animals receiving treatment since the spill.

Heavy machinery is used to dredge the river – this machine, an Amphibex, works by by pulling up the layer of soil between 6 and 18 inches deep.

DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

IN CASE OF

EMERGENCY TRANSCANADA FOCUSES ON PREVENTING LEAKS BEFORE THEY OCCUR, BUT STILL HAS A BACK-UP PLAN STORY BY JORDAN HUESERS | GRAPHIC BY GABRIEL SANCHEZ

IN THE EVENT OF A SPILL:

1. Oil company must notify national response center. 2. Quickly deploy all resources for cleanup. 3. Shut down pumps in control room. 4. Manipulate valves to keep leak isolated. 5. Respond with vacuum trucks, absorbent pads or booms. 6. Remove any contaminated soil. source: Andy Black, president of Association of Oil Pipelines

MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

ransCanada Corporation has a plan for stopping an existing leak in a pipeline – but that isn’t its first priority. “Our efforts are more directed toward preventing leaks from occurring in the first place,” said senior communications representative for TransCanada David Dodson. “Our ongoing operation and maintenance plans on top of our integrity management efforts are all aimed at the goal of prevention.” In the event of a leak, TransCanada would isolate the affected area and deprive the incident site of product, he said. TransCanada has agreed to 57 additional safety, operations and maintenance conditions that will make Keystone XL “the safest pipeline ever built,” Dodson said. These conditions include increasing the number of data sensors and remote-controlled shut-off valves and burying the pipeline deeper into the ground. Andy Black, president of the Association of Oil Pipelines, said in the event of an oil spill, companies must first notify the national response center, and then they must quickly deploy all resources for the cleanup. Next, he said, companies must shut down the pumps from control rooms, manipulate valves to keep the spill isolated and finally respond with vacuum trucks, absorbent pads or booms – floating barriers used to contain spills. If soil is contaminated, Black said companies often will remove that soil. “They need to shut down the pipeline and remediate quickly so the people and land around are not affected,” Black said. “Then they need to learn the cause and repair the pipeline.” Black said 0.0005 percent of about 11.3 billion barrels of oil transported a year is spilled. That’s 56,500 barrels – 2.373,000 gallons – of oil. Dodson said when TransCanada is notified of a spill, initial response will be within minutes. A leak can generally be detected that quickly, he said. The overall strategy for TransCanada to deal with a leak is to stop flow, contain product, find the cause and clean up, although Dodson said every scenario is casespecific. TransCanada must first determine the location and magnitude of the incident. Simultaneously, operators isolate the affected area by operating valves upstream and downstream. In some cases, detectors that sense an incident operate automatically, he said. The Keystone XL pipeline will have thousands of sensors sending information every few seconds to a control center manned by trained operators. The operators monitor flow, temperature and pressure of the pipelines. Dodson said even small changes send a prompt to the operator. “In most instances, the changes are the result of physical properties of the product and the pipeline,” Dodson said. “In cases where there is an incident, the operators receive alarms and take appropriate action.” Peter Lidiak, pipeline director for the American Petroleum Institute, said the main job for any pipeline company is to keep oil and products in the pipes. “The operators focus on making sure the pipeline is keeping in the oil – that what is being moved in the pipe stays in the pipe,” Lidiak said. Lidiak said pipeline companies work to take steps to prevent leaks from occurring by running maintenance programs such as making sure they put in place coercion control and putting additives in the oils. On top of that, Lidiak said companies do assessments of their systems frequently where they clean out the pipe and sweep out any built-up sediment. Dodson said Keystone’s record on pipeline leaks on the Internet states the Keystone pipeline leaked at least a dozen times in the first year. However, according to Dodson, this is not the case. “The pipeline itself has never leaked,” he said. “We had a problem with an above-ground valve that failed in multiple locations. Once we recognized the problem, we fixed it, and there has been no recurrence of the problem.” Dodson said the leak in the above-ground valve was between five and 50 gallons, less than a barrel, and in only one instance did the product leave TransCanada property. NEWS@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

30 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

different

animal

UNK professor works to ensure protection of endangered burying beetle story by Tammy Bain | photos b y

Morgan Spiehs

Hoback holds a photo of an American burying beetle on a dead rat in his office at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Bruner Hall. The rat was used to bate the beetle so it could be captured and relocated to avoid harm.

s plans for the Keystone XL pipeline made their way into Nebraska, one man’s expertise was needed to help save a species from extinction. Wyatt Hoback, a professor of biology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, specializes in entomology – the study of insects – and conservation issues surrounding different species. Since 2007, he’s taken his studies of the American burying beetle to new levels, finding out where it lives and helping it find a home amid pipeline construction. Hoback, who was hired at UNK as an assistant professor in 2004 after finishing his doctorate in entomology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1999, has studied the American burying beetle in Nebraska since 1998. He was promoted to professor in 2008 and has published six works on the beetle to date. The American burying beetle was once found in 35 states in the U.S. Now an endangered species, it’s only found in six, Hoback said. In 2007, Hoback was hired by TransCanada to spend his summers doing environmental assessments and more research on the American burying beetle, which is one of many animal species that would be affected by Keystone XL Pipeline construction. “I was pretty happy that they were doing background research on species that would be affected,” he said. “In Nebraska, our research is focused on where the beetle occurs and what it does where it occurs.”

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

Wyatt Hoback, a University of nebraska at kearney biology professor, has helped with the process of relocating the american burying beetle since 1998. The beetle is on the federal protected list of endangered animals and construction of the keystone Xl pipeline may cause the beetles harm.

TransCanada’s original Keystone XL route covered about 100 miles of land where beetles were known to live. Hoback said this included the Sandhills north and west of O’Neill, Neb., past Valentine, Neb. Beetles don’t live in cornfields or around cities, he said, but rather near grassland prairie that’s used for grazing and hay productions. From 2007 to 2010, Hoback and others placed fivegallon buckets in ditches to see if beetles came out. The buckets were baited with dead rats that had been rotted for three days, and “smelled really bad,” Hoback said. The trapping efforts only yielded a few hundred American burying beetles, which all came out during the night hours because the species is nocturnal, Hoback said. In 2011, Hoback began the trap-and-relocate efforts, taking the beetles five miles away from the area where they pipeline construction would disrupt their habitat. This was an effort Hoback said the beetles didn’t mind

...if you put them in a similar habitat ... they don’t try to come back.” Wyatt Hobak biology professor

one bit. “They don’t have homes like mammals do, so if you put them in a similar habitat where they won’t be disturbed, they don’t try to come back,” he said. Because beetles don’t like dry land, TransCanada contracted a company to mow the beetles’ new habitat, he said. In their habitats, the burying beetle will live up to its name, burying dead animals in the ground and later using the corpses to feed its offspring, he said.

Currently, the beetles are hibernating, and they can’t be seen until between July and August. Hoback’s research extends farther than TransCanada. Mike Fritz, a zoologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said the Game and Parks Commission has funded some of Hoback’s past work, and much of the research that Game and Parks has on the American burying beetle came from Hoback. “We have worked very closely with Dr. Hoback for a number of years,” he said. Fritz is working on an environmental review to help protect the livelihood of plants and animals living in the area that would be affected by the Keystone XL pipeline. The commission is figuring out the best way to minimize and mitigate the impact on endangered species, but it has not made anything public. The review will be re-

hoback: see page 37

32 Monday, april 15, 2013

Eminent domain shouldn’t be granted

of eminent domain could be justified if it’s n the Keystone XL pipeline’s newest for “public use” and if “just compensaadvertisement, the company comforts tion” is provided. Nebraskans by declaring “We’re also Local governments use eminent doready to respond with a highly trained main all the time to build schools, parks Nebraska-based response team standing and otherwise improve civic life. For by. We’re Nebraskans working for Transexample, the city may buy a portion of Canada. We wanna be more than a pipeline comsomeone’s property to expand a road or pany. We work hard to be a trusted neighbor.” sidewalk. It’s a bit like a democratic auKnock, knock. Can I borrow a cup of sugar thoritarianism, sure, but people seem to and a few eggs, TransCanada? No, but you can benefit from it, so it seems justified. And help yourself to a heaping bowl of civil liberty of course, infrastructure needs to be built, violations and corporate tyranny. be it owned and operated solely for corWhile the personification of corporate entiporate greed and environmental degradaties has been controversial in recent years and, tion or not. in some ways, is only tangentially related to the In Texas, where work on the southKeystone XL pipeline, the conflict between realern portion of the pipeline has already ity and the highly personal image that Keystone commenced, the process of designating promotes can be seen to epitomize the debate a “common carrier” – a pipeline that carsurrounding the pipeline. Is this company really Shariq Khan ries oil from multiple companies (“the looking out for Americans? Can we consider public”) – is surprisingly easy. A one-page this company a friend? form asking the company to checkmark Despite the commercials starring a number of obviously trustworthy small town Nebraskans, I’m not totally con- some boxes, verifying they meet a few regulations, is all that’s needed. vinced. The data seems to tell a far different story than the company’s Many of the landowners whose land will be crossed by the official estimates. Far from the expectations of chummy neighborliness that the Keystone advertisements momentarily fill my heart pipeline question the legality of TransCanada claiming eminent domain, especially as the pipeline hasn’t been formally approved for with, the proposed pipeline will undoubtedly hurt Nebraskans. The Keystone XL pipeline’s current proposed path stretches construction. Secondly, as some argue, it’s Canadian and therefore across 1,179 miles of land. If constructed, it will need to cross a few somehow less interested with the welfare of Americans than American corporations are. landowners’ properties. Stock prices rise with revenue, not with neighborliness. TransRandy Thompson was left 400 acres of pristine land on the Platte Canada has no reason to seek the public good, and has good reason River by his mother, which he uses for his cattle business. On July 21, to do otherwise if it would mean further profits. While the Keystone 2010 he received a letter. pipeline arguably meets the criteria for “public use,” it’s questionable “Dear Owner: …In order to construct a pipeline, Keystone must acquire a permanent and temporary easement over your property. whether “public benefit,” a more important measure, can be proven. Yet, while the use of eminent domain has increased dramatically It is Keystone’s strong preference to negotiate a voluntary transfer with each property owner. However, in the event we cannot come during the last few decades, many states are slowly deciding to give to an agreement, Keystone will use eminent domain to acquire the more power to private property owners. After the 2005 Supreme Court decision in the case of Kelo v. the City of New London, 40 states easement…” Keystone wants to borrow (in the way people “borrow” tissues) have passed laws in favor of limiting the usage of eminent domain. However, in granting eminent domain to the Keystone XL pipe80 of his 400 acres to build on. The land will still belong to Thompson, he will still pay taxes on it every year, but a large, high-pressure, oil- line, states will establish a dangerous precedent whereby private property can be seized by any company with sufficiently large politichugging pipeline will streak across it. cal influence, even without federal backing. “Eminent domain.” No, it’s not the name of a bad 80s rock band. Some small degree of sacrifice towards the common good is necIt’s a concept regularly used by courts to justify the acquisition of essary to civil life. The expropriation of private property for public private property by the state or corporations, often against the will use won’t be going away anytime soon, but continued legal pressure of the original owner. Since the drafting of the Constitution, eminent domain has from people like Randy Thompson will keep companies like Keystone in check, which is something we need if this project ensues. caused controversy. Thomas Jefferson believed eminent domain left Shariq Khan iS a freShman microbiology major. remnants of feudalism, where “landowners” don’t really own land, follow him on TwiTTer @Shariq_manSoor or reach but are subject to the whims of the ruler. In the end, James Madison’s him aT opinion@ view prevailed in the American system. He argued the invocation dailynebraSKan.com

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

VIEWPOINTS

Pipeline promotes poor energy practices

he Keystone XL pipeline project would inevitably and unavoidably alter the environmental and natural landscape forever. The pipeline is proposed to be 1,179 miles long, which means 1,179 miles of land will need to be extracted in the process of installation. TransCanada assures its practices and methods can properly restore the surface land. While TransCanada may be able to do so, there remains the pipeline of crude oil flowing under the earth that is not only a permanent mark on the environment, but also promotes poor energy practices and risks the health of our landscape. The Keystone XL pipeline is intended to transport oil extracted from the bituminous sand reserves in Canada. More commonly, these reserves are referred to as tar sands. Acquiring oil from tar sands is more inefficient and releases three times the amount of carbon dioxide than conventional oil sources. Tapping into tar sands doesn’t make the United States or North America energy independent or less dependent on foreign oil. Relying on the Canadian tar sands is actually an extremely exploitive process of the land, wildlife and people inhabiting the area. Conventional oil mining calls for the petroleum to be pumped through a well. However, to acquire oil through the tar sands, oil companies have to “strip mine” the land. Essentially, the producers blow off the top layer of earth to get to the bituminous sands that contain the crude oil product. The process compromises wildlife habitat and the land of the indigenous Canadian people. Strip mining also makes the land more vulnerable to erosion and chemical contamination. The Keystone pipeline project would fully promote this practice. Endorsing the pipeline represents a disregard for the sanctity and integrity of that land. Even the highest American hubris isn’t

JANE SEU worth destroying the Earth for the sake of economic independence. TransCanada boasts its modern and accountable methods for land reclamation after the pipeline is installed and the structural integrity of the pipeline metal itself. In fact, native prairie lands were successfully restored after pipeline installation in northern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. The pipeline itself is far less exploitive than the strip mining process it begins with. However, it still carries certain risks to the environment. Pipeline leaks are not an everyday occurrence and engineers work diligently to monitor any structural damage. The chance of an oil leak is low, but if it were to happen, the consequences would be far too compromising and dangerous.

Tar sands oil is more corrosive than conventional oil and could damage its own pipeline. TransCanada already wanted to bypass certain safety measures and build the pipeline with thinner metal and pump oil at higher pressures. It has since rescinded its application for permission to do so, but who knows what other safety measures it may compromise if not given the proper accountability. Oil companies may claim to put safety first, but their first interest is efficiency and profit. The Keystone pipeline is putting more than 1000 miles of trust into a big oil company who may compromise safety standards and environmental respect for a bigger profit every month. The effects of a pipeline leak are no doubt intense and dramatic. A leak recently occurred in Mayflower, Ark. on the Exxon pipeline Pegasus. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration issued a corrective order and estimated that about 3,500 to 5,000 barrels of oil were lost. At the time of writing this article, the company had recovered more than 12,000 barrels of oil and water. The leak caused the evacuation of 22 homes and left the town with a thick intoxicating smell of oil. Various wildlife like ducks and turtles were found oiled, and workers have been removing the sticky and toxic substance. Installing the Keystone XL pipeline presents another risk to harm wildlife and their habitat. Workers describe the oil as “peanut butter and tar mixed together.” Imagine dunking yourself in thick acidic sludge with no means of removing it yourself. In the event of an oil spill, that is the inevitable reality for many animals. The other pipeline leak of recent memory occurred in Kalamzoo, Mich., in 2010. A burst occurred near the Kalamazoo River and contaminated more than 40 miles

SEU: see page 35

Take a risk: Build the Keystone XL pipeline

aybe it’s true that the TransCanada reports may have enlarged the project’s actual contributions to the labor market, but every job counts. It’s true that this project will create potentials for big environmental problems, but everything in life involves risks. There is no doubt that new forms of energy like solar and wind represent the future of the energy industry, but it doesn’t mean we should do nothing with what’s available now. The purpose of life is about taking actions and not worrying about risks or uncertainties. This is not ideal, but uncertainties and risks certainly exist in life. It’s time to move forward with the Keystone XL pipeline project. The project has been in discussion mode for too long, and it’s time to make a decision. People may have concerns about the actual economic impacts and the environmental impacts, however that shouldn’t be the reason to keep the discussion going and do nothing. All the problems and concerns raised are reasonable, but they shouldn’t stop this nation’s industry from moving forward. The United States is built on risks and problems. For generations, the American people have never been scared away by risks or problems. When there are risks, let’s face them with caution. When there are problems, let’s fix them with confidence. When a project can create jobs in Nebraska and the United States and when it can bring more tax revenue to the state and federal government, then it’s time to

JIAJUN “ABE” XU move on and be certain that American people are ready to deal with whatever difficulties are ahead of them, just like it always has been. Also, the structure of the decision-making process needs to be clearer. As part of the decision-making traditions, the authorities will face opposition from many different levels. This project needs the president’s approval to get started. However, should the president implement his ideological beliefs on behalf of states where he wasn’t the

favorite candidate? In the end, the pipeline will be built on several states’ properties. In this case, it makes more sense to listen to opinions at the state level, rather than mostly at the federal level. Nebraska voters wouldn’t affect California’s budget deficit, so how would that make sense to let citizens of other states tell Nebraskans whether they should build the pipeline? When the state authorities are ready to move on with this project, what is Washington waiting for? The Keystone XL pipeline was first proposed in 2008 when the demand for oil was growing worldwide. It has been almost six years and state and federal authorities have yet to make a conclusive decision. It’s simply a yes or no. Either one is better than a pending decision. To the business community or the environmental protection groups, either answer is better than “to-be-determined.” In this very same nation, under a much worse recession, it took less than five years to build the Hoover Dam. Technologies advanced, working conditions bettered, but the determination has faded. No project will be accomplished by having more people participate in discussions. Risks will not disappear by delaying the starting date of any project. Arguing, debating and waiting will not do any good to this nation’s economy. No matter how hard politicians try, it’s just impossible to make everyone happy about any policy. However, it’s likely to make everyone unhappy if no decision is made.

XU: see page 35

34 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

cushing: from 15

KAt BuchAnAn | Dn

Plains All American Pipeline, an independently owned oil company in Cushing, Okla., currently has 71 working tanks that store oil from hundreds of underground pipelines, including oil received from the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline. to battle a larger surface fire. The last oil fire that took place in Cushing was a seal fire in 2009 and took more than 10 hours to fully put out because of mechanical issues. Though Pixler said the firefighters wouldn’t likely provide much help in an oil spill, as oil companies have their own clean-up teams, the department does work with a variety of local and national departments and companies in case of a fire emergency. “We also have a group here in Cushing called SAC, or Safety Alliance of Cushing, which is made up of all the oil companies, the fire department, the police department, the two different sheriff ’s departments,” Pixler said. “They also cover Lincoln county, so two different sheriff’s departments, the National Guard, the FBI. That group’s together just for the safety of the oil company but (for) the public’s safety as well because if something happens out here, that has an effect nationally as well.” Despite the various risks that come with living in a town surrounded by such a controversial commodity, Cushing’s citizens are mostly unconcerned about such possibilities as they put their trust into the very hands of those who bring the risk to the town in the first place: the oil companies. “These oil companies do a superb job with safety,” Pixler said. “If you go out there,

they do a much better job at safety than the rest of the world does.”

seeping into the culture

From the elementary school, which shares the same name as the oil and gas company Deep Rock, to the abundance of amenities allowed in part from revenue of the pipeline and oil companies, the effect of the oil industry in Cushing is prominent. “You go around our town, and it’s around 7,800 (in population), and you’ve got a career fire department with 21 personnel on shift, you’ve got a nice police department, we’ve got a really nice youth and community center, a really nice aquatic center,” Pixler said. “We’ve got a lot of community things that a lot of cities our size don’t have, and a lot of that is due to the oil industry here.” Accommodating the oil industry is a way of life in Cushing. Nearly all residents have pipelines running underneath the homes, backyards and places of work. Although the constant construction can be a nuisance for citizens, complying with the pipelines is simply part of being a resident in town. “We’ve got pipelines running next to our high school, behind our high school,” Knight said. “I’ve got pipelines where I live, out in the country. I’ve got two running between my house and my barn, and it’s just no issue. The only hassle is when they come to lay the

pipeline. They’ve got to do the dirty work, but they lay everything back. And it’s an inconvenience, but it’s just part of living here.” In a town living atop a maze of underground pipelines, the arrival of the Keystone XL pipeline has brought little change. To most citizens, the controversial pipeline has only brought unwanted attention and a change in the housing aspect of the town. “The only thing that’s changed in Cushing over the past three or four years is the number of trailer parks,” Knight said. Despite the oil industry’s presence in Cushing, the small-town atmosphere remains. “This little community has everything you need to survive,” Maxwell said. “It has all the essentials of a little community. I don’t have to worry about getting in my truck after work and driving 60 miles to Walmart. Everybody here is very open and welcoming to the workers, and it makes for a good experience.” While the adults’ jobs shape the financial culture of Cushing, the youth activities, especially high school sports, provide the town with entertainment. While Cushing High School’s wrestling team has won a host of state championships and women’s sports teams had success in recent years, high school football is still the big draw on Fridays in the fall. Citizens from all over town come to cheer on their Cushing Tigers regardless of whether they have family playing on the field. The importance of sports and activity

goes beyond competitive play. The town’s large community center acts as a hangout for many kids when trips to venture into the neighboring towns’ nightlife isn’t an option. “I have mixed feelings (about living in a small town),” said Brett Anderson, a freshman at Cushing High School. “Part of me is like, ‘I hate it because you’re so far from a big city.’ I love the big city, but then again you can always go to Stillwater. And it’s also cool because whenever you live in a small town, you know most people, you know how to get around. Everybody knows everybody. It’s a great community.” Cushing may seem like an ordinary town, but what lies underneath the city sets the town apart from all others in the nation. Thanks to millions of barrels of crude oil, intricate underground structure of pipelines and complete willingness to defend the industry that supports its way of living, Cushing is a town with oil running through its veins. As much of the country debates, protests or argues for the Keystone XL pipeline, for Cushing residents another pipeline simply means allowing more construction at home and reaping the benefits. “We survived the economic downturn better than a lot of other communities, and I think that’s because we have the oil industry in town,” Pixler said. neWs@ DAilYneBrAsKAn.coM

DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

XU: FROM 33

ECONOMY: FROM 8

OIL FAST FACTS 42 gallons in a barrel of oil The U.S. used 18,555,000 barrels of oil per day in 2012 One 42 gallon barrel of oil produces 19 gallons of gasoline source: U.S. Energy Information Administration GABRIEL SANCHEZ | DN vironment both with regard to extraction and transportation. “Tar sands oil is not normal crude oil: It’s oil, but in a very solid form,” van den Berg said. “It takes a lot of natural gas to heat it in order to make it flow out of the ground, and it also takes a tremendous amount of chemicals and additives to

turn it into crude oil. There’s just that huge process necessary to turn it into crude, and further, it takes much more energy for processing it because it’s a heavy, sour crude.” Day contests the allegations that the tar sands oil is worse than any other kind. “(This) oil isn’t really dirtier or less dirty than

any other kind of oil, and, again, (Valero) is replacing other sources of heavy crude oil,” Day said. “It’s heavy oil that’s replacing heavy oil, and we’ve been processing that for years.” For van den Berg, the type of oil is just an additional negative in an entire process he deems economically and environmentally

unreasonable. “We need to find restrictions, reductions of carbon use rather than expand it,” van den Berg said. “Global warming is happening. If we use that tar sands oil, we will most certainly spiral out of control of atmospheric temperatures over the next 100, 200 years.” NEWS@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

SEU: FROM 33 of river and wetlands. This pipe- age and pollution, but diagnosis and line was carrying diluted bitumen, the repairs are also an invasive and timesame quality of oil that would be car- consuming process. The company has to excavate into the ried in the Keystone pipepipeline to deterline. Booms were placed in the water to contain The nature of mine the cause of the leak and make the oil leak. However, the the pipeline the repair. Because bituminous oil sank and made the booms useless. ... means the risk is of the grand size of the Keystone pipeThe current purposed line and the corroKeystone XL pipeline carried throughout sive quality of the route crosses the Mis- its entire length.” crude tar sands oil souri River in northern it would be carryMontana. Should a leak ing, the risks for a leak are increased. occur over the Missouri River, a more extensive water network, we would Should a leak occur, the effects would have the same problem in recovering be extremely damaging to the land and water around it. A repair could the heavy sinking oil. The difficulty with a pipeline leak is not be made in time without permanent environmental harm already bethat not only does it cause intense dam-

ing done. The nature of the pipeline, because of its huge land and transcontinental needs, means the risk is carried throughout its entire length. Every mile of pipeline takes on the risk. The United States takes all the risk of environmental damage without receiving much benefit. Proponents of the pipeline claim the pipeline will create thousands of jobs and opportunity. However, that is a relatively shortterm gain that carries long-term risks. The installation of the pipeline carries a lifetime of risks for leaks and structural compromise. JANE SEU IS A JUNIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @JANE_SEU. REACH HER AT OPINION@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM.

Congress’ approval rating is definitely an example for how people react to inability to make decisions. Currently, according to Gallup, it’s about 15 percent . There is no doubt that leaks from the pipeline would create big environmental problems. However, if handled properly, there is no problem that we can’t fix. In April, 2010, one of BP’s oil rigs exploded, killing eleven workers and countless sea animals. Clearly, that’s not something anyone would like to see happen. However, that’s part of life. The unexpected happens. From many perspectives, that oil spill was a catastrophe. However, that makes oil companies, at least BP itself, more cautious about their practices. As Professor Markus Zahn, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated “there are always going to be spillages which affect the wildlife and livelihoods of people .” At the same time, Zahn also suggested that new technologies could make it possible to “clean up oil spills with magnets and nanotechnology.” The reality may The best be too obvious for thing to many people to realize, but humans do is be ready make mistakes. Sometimes, it’s to adjust for any big mistakes such changes that may as oil spills. And at the same time, come along.” we are creative enough to figure out solutions to solve problems caused by our mistakes. While it’s ideal to predict all the problems we will be facing ahead of us, life isn’t ideal. The best thing to do is be ready to adjust for any changes that may come along, including any environmental issue. Most decisions we have to make are educated guesses, so results will never be guaranteed. What’s more, solutions will never exist ahead of the problems and worrying will never answer any of your questions. In America, people are too familiar with risks and uncertainties to be scared. Since the first day of this nation, Americans faced the risks of losing the war against Britain. Given the odds were not with the U.S., America won the war. During the darkest time of the Great Depression, American people didn’t get too concerned or too worried not to take actions. From Hoover Dam to the Empire State Building to the Rockefeller Center, Americans didn’t wait for the solutions to come to solve the problems they were facing. They found out the solutions through their own hard working hands, not endless debates. It’s time for this country to move forward. It’s time to take more action and talk less. It doesn’t matter if we pass the Keystone XL pipeline now, or wait twenty years. There are always going to be risks involved in regards to leaks, so we might as well approve of it being built and reap the benefits now. Let’s build the Keystone XL pipeline now, and face the risks and rewards that may come, just as the nation has always done for the last 200 years. JIAJUN “ABE” XU IS A SENIOR DOUBLE MAJOR IN FINANCE AND ECONOMICS, REACH HIM AT OPINION@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

36 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.coM

steele city: from 17

jobs: from 10

brianna soukup | dn

Jim Novotny, left, and Jim Wiese play pickle cards and chat over beers at The Salty Dog Saloon in Steele City, Neb., on March 30. Neither are from Steele City but come from neighboring towns to hang out at the saloon regularly.

faces and meet new people,” Scheele said. “So it is kind of sad when they leave, because they’re here quite a while and you get to know them. And, like I said, you almost become friends with them.” Harbey said there was once a crew of two men working on a pipeline crossing near a river. They would come over to her house, have a few beers and listen to music in the garage with her husband. “They become family,” Harbey said. Harbey, Cheryl Scheele and her father William Scheele all disagreed with the picture that is painted of pipelines – like the Keystone XL – destroying small towns with a sudden influx of outsiders. “I don’t believe that, I think people are farfetched when they say things like that,” Cheryl Scheele said. “The negative things that people say; I think they’re just trying to start something.” If the Keystone XL pipeline is approved, Cheryl Scheele is excited to welcome new workers into the friendly community she calls home. Walking through The Salty Dog Saloon, past the old traffic signal hanging from the ceiling surrounded by dollar bills stuck to the tiles`, stands the rickety men’s bathroom. Just inside the bathroom on the ceiling is scribbled writing: Among these solid walls are very, very solid friends. news@ dailnebraskan.com

brianna soukup | dn

TransCanada has a pipeline station just outside of Steele City, Neb. There are already two pipelines that run through Steele City. If the Keystone XL pipeline receives approval, it will run through the town as well.

according to a press release. The pipeline would be broken down into 17 U.S. segments, with 500 workers employed for each segment, or 8,500 jobs. The project also needs 30 different pump stations, each requiring about 100 workers. Another 1,600 jobs would be needed for the construction camps in Cushing, Okla., and the various management and inspection oversight jobs associated with the construction process, according to the TransCanada press release. Both the government’s report and TransCanada have broken down their job estimates into the specific types of jobs that would be created by the pipeline project. The extensive list includes positions such as engineer, safety coordinator, oiler, operator, laborer, foreman and office manager, among others. Researchers at Cornell University conducted an independent study to look into the job creation estimates released by TransCanada and the American Petroleum Institute. In the study – “Pipe Dreams?” – Lara Skinner and Sean Sweeney, from Cornell’s Global Labor Institute, found previous job creation estimates to be inflated and said the pipeline project would create no more than 2,500 to 4,650 temporary direct construction jobs over the two years of the construction period. Skinner and Sweeney also said TransCanada’s claim that the project will create 20,000 direct construction and manufacturing jobs is unsubstantiated. Spokesman for TransCanada Shawn Howard said discrepancies in the estimated number of jobs that will be created from the pipeline construction come mostly from differences in how these jobs have been defined by others. “At times, it’s been how others have described jobs that has created some confusion,” Howard said. “TransCanada has been clear: the entire Keystone XL and Gulf Coast pipeline projects will support 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs.” Howard said some job estimates for the pipeline have been calculated using person years versus actual jobs, meaning that one person working on the pipeline for two years would count as two jobs. news@ dailynebraskan.com

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

hoback: from 31

Hoback feeds a dead rat to a bull snake on april 13 in the University of nebraska at kearney’s bruner Hall.

leased if and when TransCanada is given the permits required to build the Keystone XL pipeline, Fritz said. Other species Fritz has studied include the Salt Creek tiger beetle, sagebrush lizard, native fish species, birds and bats, the White Lady Slipper orchid and the Western Prairie orchid plants, among others. “A lot of our focus right now is with endangered species … what we review is a fairly narrow impact on statutory requirement of endangered species,” he said. Fritz said relocation is one way to minimize damage to threatened and endangered species,

and he believes no animals will become extinct as a direct result of the pipeline and its construction. Grady Semmens, a communications specialist for TransCanada, works with biologists to make sure wildlife are not too disturbed by pipeline construction and said all wildlife, including the beetles, will be safe after pipeline construction. “We cover a lot of diverse landscapes and habitats,” he said. “There’s a lot of work that has to be done.” LayLa younis contributed to this report. news@ daiLynebraskan.com

morgan spiehs | dn

During the day, Port Arthur, Texas, is the picture of a transitioning oil town. Refineries tower over the tree tops and are a prominent part of the landscape for miles. A thick streak of brown paints the sky overhead. After the sun sets, the brown fades and Port Arthur glistens in the light of the oil processing plants. Locals refer to the glowing refineries as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas trees.â&#x20AC;? For the residents of Port Arthur, oil is a part of daily life. For many Nebraskans, oil seems alien. Where Port Arthur has oil and refineries, most Nebraska towns

have cornfields and grain mills. But after the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route was set to run cut through the state from top to bottom, oil became more important for many Nebraskans. On April 18, Nebraskans will get their first and only chance to publicly debate the pipeline during a public hearing held by the U.S. Department of State in Grand Island. Once the state department completes its environmental review, President Barack Obama will make the final decision.

Oil refineries glow before sunrise in Port Arthur, Texas. The gulf city is the final destination for oil travelling through the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

40 MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

Hardisty, Alberta

DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

KEYSTONE XL

TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

PROPOSED

TransCanada announced the Keystone XL pipeline project, and the U.S. State Department announced it would conduct an Environmental Impact Statement.

KEYSTONE XL

FEBRUARY 2009

KEYSTONE PIPELINE

During the public comment period, citizens expressed concerns about how the pipeline could affect oil consumption.

Steele City, Neb. Patoka, Ill.

CUSHING EXTENSION

Cushing, Okla.

GULF COAST PROJECT

KEYSTONE & KEYSTONE XL

HOUSTON LATERAL PROJECT Nederland, Texas Houston, Texas

GRAPHIC BY GABRIEL SANCHEZ

MARCH 2010 Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Energy Board approved the Canadian portion of the pipeline. The state released the draft Environmental Impact Statement, which environmental advocates criticized for not including information about greenhouse gases. But the EIS found the route would negatively affect cultural resources.

ROUTE

DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

SEPTEMBER 2011

Cornell University Global Labor Institute released a study on the pipeline titled “Pipe Dreams? Jobs Gained, Jobs Lost by the Construction of Keystone XL.” The report found the pipeline would only create as few as 50 permanent jobs and 2,500 to 4,650 temporary jobs, fewer than TransCanada’s estimate of 20,000 direct jobs and 119,000 total jobs. Opposition to the pipeline began to form, calling on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to deny the pipeline.

AUGUST 31, 2011

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and Sens. Mike Johanns and Ben Nelson joined the opposition, saying a spill could harm the Ogallala Aquifer.

OCTOBER 2011

Heineman called for a special session of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature to discuss the pipeline.

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

The legislature passed two bills relating to Keystone and allowed the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to study the effects of the pipeline. Heineman asked Obama to deny TransCanada’s permit because the proposed route was a risk to the ecologically sensitive Sandhills. Nebraska and TransCanada agreed to work on a new route that would avoid the Sandhills.

DECEMBER 2011

The House and Senate approved the payroll tax bill, which required President Barack Obama to approve or deny the pipeline permit within 60 days.

JANUARY 18, 2012

Obama announced he would not approve construction of the pipeline and asked TransCanda to reapply for a permit.

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

TransCanada went forward with the southern half of Keystone XL (the Gulf Coast Project), from Cushing, Okla., to the Texas Gulf Coast. Because the pipeline didn’t cross an international border, the project did not require a presidential permit.

MARCH 2012

Obama said he supported the Gulf Coast Project.

MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

MAY 4, 2012

TransCanada submitted its second permit for the northern part of the pipeline.

JULY 2012

TransCanada and the NEDQ began collaborating on a new route that would avoid the Sandhills.

JANUARY 2013 22— The NDEQ completed its report and found the

proposed reroute to be environmentally sound. Heineman announced his approval of the new route on the same day. 29— Native Americans, environmentalists and occupiers gathered at the Nebraska Capitol to protest the pipeline. Idle No More, a Canadian Native American activist group, organized most of the rally against the pipeline.

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

BOLD Nebraska, 350.org and the Sierra Club marched on the U.S. capitol mall during the “Forward on Climate” rally.

MARCH 2013 1— The State Department released the Supplemental

Environmental Impact Statement, which discussed the environmental implications of the pipeline. The statement found the construction and use of the pipeline would create as much global warming pollution as 626,000 passenger vehicles.

22— The Senate backed the project during the

“vote-a-rama.” North Dakota Sen. John Hoven introduced an amendment to the budget proposal. Sixty senators voted yes. 30— Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry said the new route was a “no-brainer” during the GOP’s weekly address. Terry’s district does not include the area where the pipeline would be built.

APRIL 2013 18— The State Department will have a public hearing in Grand Island. People can also submit testimony on the State Department’s website.

Later this year

Obama is expected to make a decision on the pipeline as early as later this spring or early fall.

42 MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

NATIVE AMERICANS: FROM 19 Thompson said that even though TransCanada has reached out to many tribes, even flying some tribe members – all expenses paid – to Calgary, it is by no means required to directly consult with the tribes. According to Thompson, TransCanada communicates with tribes because it values what they have to say. Consulting with Native American tribes is the responsibility of the U.S. government. “We can’t be involved with that,” Thompson said. “We are not a government organization. We’re a private corporation.” Thompson said most tribes along the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route understand that TransCanada isn’t required to work with them. The majority of tribes along the route, according to Thompson, have a good relationship with TransCanada. Thompson explained that TransCanada provides great economic opportunities to the tribes, as well as jobs for the tribal members. “A lot of tribes are becoming really savvy and understanding the benefits of the project,” Thompson said. He also explained that many tribes who back the projIf it wasn’t ect already have tribal members working on the pipeline, and for the members in tribes who oppose the project will always have land, none of that same opportunity, even if their tribe passes a resolution use would be against the pipeline. here anyway. “If a tribal member said, ‘I want to work on this proj- That’s the only ect,’ we will find them a spot,” way that we Thompson said. The Defenders of the Black can survive or Hills movement have created anybody can a resolution under the Sioux Nation Treaty Council in op- survive.” position, stating they are obligated to protect Mother Earth. JOHN WRIGHT YANKTON SIOUX TRIBE Their website contains a letter for those interested to sign and send. It is addressed to President Barack Obama, asking him to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. It seems as though the Yankton Sioux are far more concerned about their land than the jobs TransCanada could offer to tribal members, according to Spotted Eagle. “If it wasn’t for the land, none of us would be here anyway,” Wright said. “That’s the only way that we can survive or anybody can survive. That’s why it’s so sacred.” Thompson said TransCanada cares about preserving ancestral lands, which is why it has conducted a cultural resource pipeline survey where it walks every inch of the pipeline to make sure it avoids any culturally sensitive areas. But, according to Thompson, TransCanada is not obligated to do this, considering the pipeline won’t directly cross tribal lands. Thompson said TransCanada goes through these steps because of the pipeline’s close proximity to cultural lands. “We believe that what we’re doing is in the best interest of the country,” Thompson said. Native American values and beliefs are the driving force behind stopping the Keystone XL pipeline. Spotted Eagle said one of the basic principles of The Great Sioux Nation, and “every single tribal belief system on this continent,” is responsibility to protect Mother Earth. “When people plow through and condemn land and bring more and more pipelines, there’s no way we’re going to stand by and let that happen,” Spotted Eagle said. Thompson emphasized that the majority of tribes affected by the Keystone XL pipeline are behind the project. “(Opposition tribes) try and represent all tribes, and that’s just incorrect,” Thompson said. Spotted Eagle shared the story from her tribe about a monster, called an Eya, that eats and eats and doesn’t know when to stop. She said the story warns that one day Turtle Island, which is what the Native Americans refer to the United States as, will be an Eya, and it will eat everything in sight, regardless of the pain it causes to Mother Earth. “(TransCanada) is the Eya,” Spotted Eagle said. NEWS@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

dailynebraskan.coM

Monday, april 15, 2013

boom Towns: from 19 ogallala: from 27 steps to follow if a trigger is hit,” he said. If the pipeline were to spring a leak, though, that would be out of his control, he said. That’s a point-source problem, meaning the contamination can be sourced to one particular point, and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality takes charge of those, O’Brien said. Officials at the NDEQ did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Bair thinks the general misunderstanding of aquifers and how they work is what leads to the pollution. “A lot of people have this impression that the aquifer is this giant underground lake and that if you drop chemicals into one end of it, they’ll show up in the other end of it, and that’s not what it is,” Bair said. While she thinks the Keystone XL pipeline is negative for other reasons, such as burning fossil fuels, she wants Nebraskans to understand the current state of the aquifer. “My sense of it is that when you have a spill, it’d be worse in the Sandhills than anywhere else,” Bair said. “But I don’t think it would be nearly as bad as it was being made out to be.” Goeke blames Nebraskans’ emotional attachment to the aquifer for any absolute opposition to the pipeline. And although Winston said he concedes his knowledge of aquifers to Goeke, he questions Goeke’s motive, although Goeke works for a non-political organization. “I kind of wonder if he feels like he’s been forced into a position of supporting the pipeline because he thinks people don’t really understand hydrology and aquifers,” Winston said. “People get attached to the Sandhills and the Ogallala and they don’t want to consider anything that might endanger the resource,” Goeke said. “And even if you explain that any spill would be very localized, they just don’t want to hear it.” news@ dailynebraskan.com

SUDOKU PUZZLE

TransCanada will be using to transport the oil. Sue Mitchell, who owns land near the proposed route, is more concerned about the environment than the strangers who will be make O’Neill their temporary home. “Our concern is that they have told us that they can’t detect 2 percent of a leak,” Mitchell said. “Well, 2 percent of a leak of 800,000 barrels each day we are very concerned with.” And residents aren’t sure O’Neill will see any economic uptick as a result of the construction. “We have been told that TransCanada is going to be purchasing land. They are going to put in their own little city,” Mitchell said. If TransCanada builds its own communities along the pipeline, neighboring towns won’t reap the economic benefits of the worker influx. Williston, N.D., is one of the many towns that flourished with the 2008 oil boom. Its estimated population makes it the eighth-largest city in North Dakota at 14,716 people. It has changed from an agriculturally run town to an oil-driven town. About 24 billion barrels of oil lie underground around Williston, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It may take a while for the oil pockets to run dry, but a drop in oil prices or the discovery of new oil-rich grounds could put an end to North Dakota’s excitement. The town of Desdemona, Texas, went boom in 1918, when the director of an oil company struck oil on town

jump ship, leading to the land. Nothing was left but a town’s bust. When the main ghost town filled with mostly But the success was short lived. The production of oil driving force behind the vacant houses and businesses economy – oil – was no longer torn down to prevent pests dropped from 7 million baravailable, the new economic rels to less than 3 million barfrom taking over. The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation Eighth Avenue, NewPeople York, N.Y. news@ system collapsed. had10018 rels by 1921. New members 620 Forleave Information 1-800-972-3550 dailynebraskan.com to town Call: to find jobs. of the population started to For Friday, August 31, 2012

Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Line of acid reflux medications 7 Gash

29 Money for nothing?

44 Pretends not to care

30 Undergoes liquefaction, as a gel

47 1945 event

48 Shooting pellets?

31 It may have an ext.

15 1984 film based on the 1924 novel

49 Completely gone

32 Actresses Graff and Kristen

17 Causes for some wars 19 French-built rocket

34 Like some rule-breaking Olympians

20 Downwind

35 Not getting it

21 Some religious experiences

36 Leave

39 What’s between fast and slow?

24 ___ Tamid (synagogue lamp)

41 Great Lakes state: Abbr.

25 Items often found near the cash register

42 Segue 43 Country whose name sounds like a Jamaican exclamation

26 Suffix with diet 27 Mark atop, as graph points

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

T A M V I N

A Q U I N O

T W E R P S

D A T A B A S E

O U T P A C E S

E S S

T R O I O E R P L O L B S Y O W T I A T L E L L S WM S E N T S

V E N U E S

S H A S T A

N E H I

D R A G

E A A M T P

P O T I R E C O N T S I WM M Y O K L O I S E R S T S A I S F N I S F A L E S L E D I N G E T E

V O I C E S

E D N O R T O A N G R O A T T H A MW M A

4 Where to hear hearings

5 Sch. in Ames

6 Finds customers from social media, perhaps

9 Woodsy scavengers A R 10 Its national M anthem is “Amhrán na bhFiann” S P 11 Boxing seg. F 12 “Guys and Dolls” song

S W A R M S

13 Some basic car care S P 14 Take on E gradually W 16 Rulers or S managers

3 1 or 2 Timothy

D O W N L O A D

7 Preceded

Puzzle by Joe Krozel

22 Didn’t hide one’s feelings, to say the least 23 Bad thing to make at a restaurant 26 One working on a board 28 Tiffany features 29 Elite

30 Askance 31 Wearer of the triregnum crown 33 Spoofing, with “up” 35 Absolutely perfect 37 Like campers at night, typically

39 “The ___: A Tragedy in Five Acts” (Shelley work) 40 Unlike HDTV screens 42 “South Pacific” girl 45 Relig. title 46 Christian ___

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

Every row, column and 3x3 box should contain the numbers 1 thru 9 with no repeats across or down.

Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

By Wayne Gould

Yesterday’s Answer

2 Like questions of what is knowable

8 Baseball stat

F E R M I

1 Katherina or Bianca, in “The Taming of the Shrew”

38 Guidance

23 Laplanders

DOWN

33 Next

18 Court org.

No. 0727

For more inFormation or to apply, visit: get.nebook.com/careers

44 Monday, april 15, 2013

dailynebraskan.com

Housing Roommates 3rd female roommate needed. 3 bedroom house. Clean home, nice neighborhood in Woods Park area. 10 minute bike ride, 2 minute drive to campus. Contact Mark (402)795-2274 in the evening. 730 Marshall Ave. Looking for someone to take over the lease for my apartment this summer at The View Apartments, 301 W. Charleston St. Lincoln, NE, May - August 1st. It is 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, Unfurnished. Rent is $309 per month plus utilities (cable, electric). Rent payments are on an individual room basis so you are just paying for your room within the apartment. The other 3 rooms will be filled randomly. Washer/Dryer in the apartment. Refrigerator, Dish Washer, Microwave and Private Balcony included, 24 Hour Fitness Center, Free Tanning Machine at the Clubhouse, Swimming Pool, Hot Tub, Basketball Court, Sand Volleyball Court, Barbeque Grills. This has been a good place to live while I have rented here, I’m just moving home for the summer. Very Safe, no issues with security, haven’t had any problems with our appliances not working. Also, the other rooms will need to be filled so if you are looking for a place as a group or just yourself I can help you accommodate either way. If interested please contact Matt at matthrdlicka@gmail.com or 402-677-7866. Need Two Summer Roommates (Female) to fill a house located in the Highlands Neighborhood. The house is 3 bed, 2 bath and was new in 2005. Lease would be June-Middle August. Contact Allie at allieodell@huskers.unl.edu for more information.

dailynebraskan.coM

classifieds

Roommates

Houses For Rent Great off-campus housing. More Space/ Less cost/ Freedom!

2,3,4, &5 bedroom homes all near UNL. Check us out at AmRents.com or call 402-423-1535

Room available at Northbrook Apartments, $348 rent plus 1/3 utilities. Pets are okay. Looking to move out ASAP. If interested contact Lia at (402) 617-7652

Quality student housing. 3,4,5 bedroom houses. Excellent condition. Washer/dryer included. Off street parking. Call 402-499-8567.

We are two college students living in a house at 727 S 33rd st. with three more rooms available. The house has two bathrooms a kitchen with dishwasher and combination washer/dryer. Both of us are quiet, friendly people and ideally our roommates would have similar dispositions. So if a house with a lot of natural light that’s about ten minutes from both UNL campuses with friendly, slightly nerdy roommates then email Sam at heylookitsmesam@gmail.com for more information.

Houses For Rent Great Houses Close to UNL. Available in August. 402-432-0644 Must See! Reserve Yours Now! 836 Y St........2 Bed....1 Bath....$650.00 804 Y St........3 Bed....1 Bath....$825.00 1531 N 22nd..3 Bed...2 Bath....$900.00 More information and photos at: www.pooley-rentals.com/b.html Great Houses Close to UNL. Available in May. 402-432-0644. Must See! Reserve Yours Now! 927 N 30th...........6 Bed....2 Bath..$1600.00 More information and photos at: www.pooley-rentals.com

Misc. Services

(402) 472-2589 Fax: (402) 472-1761

Needed a student to share a cozingly finished 2 bedroom, 2 bath townhouse at 70th & South street. Large one bedroom with oversized windows, spacious closet, and bath, located in nicely finished basement. Laundry room and fireplace on same level. Cost is $500.00/mo. including utilities, W/D, and garage. Call or email Theresa 610-454-7773 or email to amazzengrace@yahoo.com

Roommate needed in a three bedroom house. House is located off of W South St. The house is a new build. Rent includes electric, cable, water, internet,etc, and a spot in garage. $500.00 per month. Contact Emily at (319) 415-3056

Misc. Services

Apts. For Rent 1 bedroom apartment with washer and dryer within walking distance of UNL East (Apple Street). $450/month. No smoking or pets. Call Stacy at (402) 875-3650. 2 and 3 bedroom units, 2 baths, nice. N/P, N/S. Available 6/1 and 7/1. Great East Campus/City Campus location. Call 402-430-4253. LIKE us on facebook at Starr Street Apts.

2 BR. $535. Free Utilitities

And Cable. All furniture furnished. 700 South 17th. Parking. Laundry. N/S, N/P. 402-450-8895. 846 N 27th. 2-2 bdrm apt for rent. $500/month. 2nd floor w/large deck. Off street parking. Low Utilities. Available Immediately. Call -402-610-1188 Darling 1br/1ba apt for rent. No one above or below. Great porch, large closets, fully renovated, washer & dryer, new everything, also available for rent is 2br/2ba house attached and 2 car garage. 1240 Peach St 402-730-7778 Live like you mean it at The View, the best in Lincoln student living! At The View you will have the privacy and lifestyle you deserve in an off campus student community that is built specifically with you, the college student, in mind.

Misc. Services

Summer Housing 1 BR May 20-Aug. 20

Summer lease. Furnished 5-plex. 1810 H, $435/month. Students Welcomed. Parking & Laundry. N/S, N/P. 450-8895. 1 br. available in a 3br/3ba apt. at The View. Willing to give you May’s rent for free! Contace Jessica at jessicag@cox.net Summer Roommate needed. One bedroom, May 20 - August 20th. $330/per month, everything included. 2.5 miles from campus. Contact Chase at 402-320-2414

Condos For Sale COLLEGE PRO is now hiring painters all across the state to work outdoors w/ other students. Earn $3k-5k. Advancement opportunities + internships. 1-888-277-9787 or www.collegepro.com.

Jobs Help Wanted A FUN PLACE TO WORK! Frontier Harley-Davidson Now taking applications for part-time staff to assist in our Clothing, Collectibles & General Merchandise Department. No motorcycle experience necessary, but applicants should be pleasant, presentable, dependable and hard-working and possess strong people skills and sales initiative. Hours may vary; we are open 7-days-a-week. Full-time hours during summer a possibility. Applicants may download an application @ www.frontierhd.com or pick one up in person @ 205 NW 40th Street (West ‘O’). Architectural design and construction firm is looking for an engineering major who is available to fill a part-time warehouse position 15-25 flexible daytime hours per week. Full time availability is available through the summer for the right candidate. Primary job duties include receiving, unloading, organizing and checking in project materials and inventory, keeping warehouse neat and organized, assisting with packing and delivery as necessary, jobsite maintenance as needed and other duties as assigned. We are a small, busy company looking for good people. We offer competitive wages and a fast paced and fun work environment in exchange for a team player who is willing to assist in any area needed. We are more than willing to train the right person, and can be flexible in scheduling depending upon the needs of the job candidate. Please email resume to: Lisza@coffeyandcompany.com, or mail to 3530 Village Drive Suite # 200, Lincoln, NE 68516. Bockmann Inc. has immediate openings for licensed asbestos workers and non-licensed with construction background. 40/hr. work week with possible overtime and travel. Must have a valid drivers license and pass the DOT regulated drug test. Note to applicants, Bockmann Inc., utilizes E-Verify. Apply in person at Bockmann Inc., 1420 Centerpark Rd. Lincoln, NE. 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or go to our website at www.bockmanninc.com Click on “to contact us” and download the application per instructions.

Concrete Laborers and Finishers

Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and transportation. Full-time positions with overtime and benefits. Part-time positions also available. Starting pay $9-12/ hour. Please apply in person at 421 S. 9th Street, Suite 111 or e-mail your resume to Angela@starcityconcrete.com

Deliver Papers Please help us help those coping with rare, chronic, genetic diseases. New donors can receive $40 today and $90 this week! Ask about our Speciality Programs! Must be 18 years or older, have valid I.D. along with proof of SS# and local residency. Walk- ins Welcome New donors will receive a $10 a bonus on their second donation with this ad.

$9.00/15 words $5/15 words (students) $1.00/line headline $0.15 each additional word deadline: 4p.m., weekday prior

Fall Semester

Do you like to exercise daily and get paid for it? Deliver Daily Nebraskans. You can deliver a route in about an hour. Must have own vehicle, ability to lift and carry 30 lbs, be a UNL student and not have classes before 9:00 a.m. For more information or to apply, contact Dan at 402-472-1769, 20 Nebraska Union. dshattil@unl.edu.

EARN UP TO $1000-$1500/WEEK

Upscale & Classy,THE OFFICE GENTLEMEN’S CLUB hiring Exotic Dancers. Vegas Style Gentlemen’s Club Finally comes to the Midwest! Come work at the Best Club in Lincoln. For Information and Interview times: CALL BRENT @ 402-525-8880 or Apply within at The Office Gentlemen’s Club 3pm -2am 640 W. Prospector Ct. Lincoln. (HWY 77 & W. Van Dorn St.)

dn@unl.edu

Help Wanted Gallup

Gallup is hiring pt/ft telephone interviewers and bi-lingual Spanish–English interviewers to conduct market research and public opinion surveys. This is not a sales position. You will be helping people’s opinion be heard! Gallup offers: flexible schedules: afternoons, evenings, and weekends; 20-40 hours a week. Base pay starts at $9.75 and full time base pay starts at $14.00. Bi-lingual base pay starts at $11.70 and full time base pay starts at $16.80. You choose the hours you work. A full range of benefits that includes college tuition. Pay for Performance: You control what you earn. In Lincoln: 425 Fallbrook Boulevard and Edgewood at 56th & Hwy 2. Apply today! Log online at www.gallup.com/careers Gallup is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Get Cash Money+ Free Textbooks!

Nebraska Book Company | Neebo is now hiring for temporary positions over summer break. It’s a good job in a cool, air-conditioned warehouse. Here’s the info: 8 hours/day, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. $8.00/hour, plus the chance to get free textbook rentals* For more information or to apply, visit: get.nebook.com/careers *Eligibility for free textbook rentals is based on employment dates and overall job performance

GO TO CAMP THIS SUMMER!

Get great experience, touch a child’s life forever, work outside, and have fun at YMCA Camp Kitaki. Visit our web site www.ymcalincoln.org/kitaki for descriptions of available positions and an application. It’s the best thing you’ll ever get paid to do! Apply online www.ymcalincolnjobs.org, email campkitaki@ymcalincoln.org or visit our website www.ymcalincoln.org

Help Wanted

Ka-Boomer’s Fireworks is now accepting applications for summer employment. If you are interested in a high paying summer position as a warehouse employee, email us at kaboomersfireworks@gmx.com for an application and more information. www.kaboomersfireworks.com

Lawncare-Landscaping

Positions available for the following: *Lawn maintenance *Sod installation *Lawn irrigation installation *Landscape maintenance Must have good driving record and neat appearance. Call Terry at Lawnscape, 402-432-0856.

LAZLO’S SOUTH

Where quality is not just a word it’s a Culture. Now hiring the Best and the Brightest experienced servers. FT/PT opportunities available Applications are accepted online at www.lazlosbreweryandgrill.com Click “Careers”. EOE Come join our team! Lee’s Propane is now hiring part time help. Up to 30 hrs/wk. Will train. Starting pay $8.50/hr. Apply in person at 625 W. O St or email resume to cengel@leespropane.com

Lifeguards & Swim Lesson Instructors

The Lincoln YMCA currently has openings for Summer Seasonal Lifeguards and Swim Instructors. Must enjoy working with youth. Complimentary Y membership available to qualified staff. Apply online at www.ymcalincolnjobs.org. Looking for reliable, upstanding individuals to join the Brothers family as security/floor staff. Fun place, fast-paced and competitive. Any questions can be directed towards the manager: 402-474-0200.

Part-Time Teller

Monday-Friday 10am-2pm. Customer service, cash handling and balancing experience highly preferred. Must be able to process customer transactions efficiently and accurately. Ability to operate on-line teller system and other standard office equipment such as computer, typewriter and 10 key calculator/adding machine is needed. Willingness to learn and to assist members and coworkers with assorted responsibilities. Mail resume to Nebraska State Employees Credit Union or karen@nsecu.org.

Help Wanted PART-TIME LEASING CONSULTANT Looking for a job that adds valuable experience to your resume? Join our team at Holmes Lake Apartments. Must be available 9:00 a.m 6:00pm, Mon or Friday and every other weekend. Apply in person at 7100 Holmes Park Road or email resume to klyons@broadmoor.cc PLAY SPORTS! HAVE FUN! SAVE MONEY! Maine camp needs fun loving counselors to teach All land, adventure & water sports. Great summer! Call 888-844-8080, apply: campcedar.com Playmakers is hiring for our upcoming volleyball season. Mulitple part-time positions available. Great atmosphere, fun and energetic place to be. Join our staff today! Experience preferred but not needed. Apply today @ Playmakers Bar & Grill 640 W. Prospector Ct. (Hwy 77 & West Van Dorn St.) Lincoln, NE 68522 Hours 4pm-2am Must apply in person to be interviewed. Call Roger for more details 402-525-3186 PT morning teller Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-12:30pm, and Sat 8:30am-noon. Location at 5705 S 86th St, Lincoln, NE 68526. Applications e-mailed to ahanquist@linconefcu.org. PT teller Mon. -Fri. 12:30pm-6:00pm, and Sat 8:30am-noon. Location at 4638 W St, Lincoln, NE 68503. Applications e-mailed to mvandyke@linconefcu.org

Summer Childcare Staff

The Lincoln YMCA is seeking childcare staff for our summer programs at all Y facilities. Must have previous experience working with children/ youth. Complimentary Y membership available to qualified staff. Apply Online: ymcalincolnjobs.org

The Parthenon

Currently hiring servers. Experience not necessary, Apply in person. 56th & Hwy 2 (Edgewood Shopping Center.) Tico’s is now hiring part-time servers. Apply in person.

Summer Jobs COLLEGE PRO is now hiring painters all across the state to work outdoors w/ other students. Earn $3k-5k. Advancement opportunities + internships. 1-888-277-9787 or www.collegepro.com. Help wanted for custom harvesting. Truck driving. Good wages, guarantee pay. Call 970-483-7490 evenings. Sell advertising next fall to Lincoln businesses for the Daily Nebraskan. Work between classes in assigned territories, commissions paid. Help businesses reach the campus audience. Any major acceptable, Excellent resume builder. Apply at Daily Nebraskan advertising office, Room 28, Nebraska Union.

Announcements A research study is being conducted by the Veterans administration to measure the elastic properties of facial skin. Results from the study will be used to develop new facial prosthetic materials that replace missing facial features (eyes, ears, noses, etc,) lost to trauma, burns or cancer. Research is being conducted at the VA Medical Center in Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln. The study seeks male and female volunteers between the ages of 19 and 70 belonging to one of the following racial/ethnic groups: Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino. Volunteers must be willing to refrain from applying cream, moisturizers or make-up to the face 24 hours prior to the study. The study will take about 1 hour to complete. If interested, in Lincoln contact Bobby at 402-472-4949, or in Omaha contact Lauren at 402-280-4529 for more information. IRB#00644 Post & Nickel clothing & footwear super sale for men & women! Extra 30% off already marked sale items! Stop in for designer jeans, fashion & footwear! 2 blocks from UNL at 14th & P! Come see us! Also hiring! Apply within!

Meetings Alchoholics Anonymous meeting Mondays 7:30 p.m. at University Luthern Chapel 1510 ‘Q’. Public Welcome. 402-223-0689