Keystone XL pipeline: Nebraska Governor Heineman's continued dereliction of duty in protecting Ogallala aquifer

Keystone 1 pipeline spill in Sergeant County, North Dakota last month
Photo via Sierra Club

On his monthly call-in radio program on Monday, Nebraska Republican Governor Dave Heineman continued his evasions, half-truths and obfuscations about his lack of leadership (even compared to other Republicans) in refusing to make any meaningful effort to reroute away from North America's most important underground aquifer a tar sands pipeline extension of a line that has already leaked at 14 times in its first year, according to the Times Colonist of Victoria/Vancouver Island, Canada.

Heineman said, regarding the pipeline: “This is a federal, regulatory decision. I don't get to make it as governor.”

How disingenuous. The Department of State only has the power to block the pipeline crossing the US border. Siting authority lies within individual states, according to the Congressional Research Service.

After doing absolutely nothing in the recently-concluded legislative session to get passage of pipeline oversight legislation in Nebraska, Heineman shamelessly told his audience that there's “some doubt” about whether Nebraska can now pass legislation affecting the Keystone XL route (sure — now that it may be too late to affect the construction!)

Senator Mike Johanns, a fellow Republican, has repeatedly urged that the pipeline bypass the Sand Hills and the underlying Ogallala Aquifer. BoldNebraska notes that Senator Ben Nelson has urged state leaders to take responsibility and act on behalf of the citizens they have been elected to represent.

The Lincoln Journal-Star recently noted that the Environmental Protection agency has recently lined up with pipeline critics. Obviously Governor Heineman didn't get that memo. But then, he apparently didn't the one from the Congressional Research Service either.

ensign-beedril, Flickr

BoldNebraska.org recommends that you call (402-471-2244) Gov. Heineman, and tell him to get serious about his duty to protect our land and water by rerouting the pipeline now.

In conclusion, AKSARBENT sarcastically recommends that you take to Lincoln any orphaned weasels that you may find along the roadway and then slip them under the governor's mansion fence so that the unfortunate creatures don't grow up without a worthy role model.