The Keystone Oil Pipeline between Missouri and Illinois was Shutdown Due To "Safety Reasons."
Jeannie Layson, spokeswoman for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, wrote:
"TransCanada reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that they have shut down their existing Keystone system pipeline to make repairs in areas where required integrity tests identified possible safety issues"
Jeannie Layson said possible problems are on the pipeline that extends between Missouri and Illinois.
TransCanada's Grady Semmens the pipeline was shut down for precaution measures -- no biggy
SEMMENS: "We found a small anomaly on the outside of the pipe after analyzing the data from an in-line inspection tool. As a precaution, we've shut down the line so we can go in and take a closer look."
Remember in August 31, 2011, it was Nebraska Republican Governor Dave Heineman (R) who wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to
reject the Keystone XL Pipeline permit. (GOP want everyone to think only Dems' wanted to reject the Pipeline)
(Nebraska Republican Governor Dave Heineman (R) letter to President Obama)
Dear President Obama and Secretary Clinton,
I am writing you today regarding a very important issue to the State of Nebraska and to our citizens- the Keystone XL Pipeline. I am opposed to the proposed route of this pipeline. The final Environmental Impact Statement compares a potential spill in the sand Hills region to 1979 Bemidji, Minnesota spill and concludes that "the impacts to shallow groundwater from a spill of similar volume in the Sand Hills region would affect a limited area of the aquifer around the spill site." I disagree with this anaylsis, and I believe that the pipeline should not cross a substantial portion of theOgallala Aquifer.
Republican Governor Heineman concludes his letter to President Obama with this:
Therefore, I am asking you to disapprove TransCanada's pending permit request. Do not allow TransCanada to build a pipeline over the Ogallala Aquifer and risk the potential damage to Nebraska's water.
Sincerely,
Dave Heineman - Governor
In an interview on October 16, 2012, Former TransCanada engineer Evan Vokes Vokes said he raised concerns about the competency of some pipeline inspectors and the company's lack of compliance with welding regulations set by the National Energy Board, the federal energy industry regulator.
Vokes raised his concerns with the Vice President of Operations, and wrote a detailed letter CEO Russ Girling. After getting nowhere with Keystone officials, Vokes finally filed a formal complaint to the National Energy Board.
As a result, the NEB launched an investigation and today issued a public letter to TransCanada saying, "many of the allegations of regulatory non-compliance identified by the complainant were verified by TransCanada's internal audit."
Republicans owned by the Oil industry and the Koch Brothers in particular, are pressing President Obama to approve the pipeline with the false BS mantra that the Keystone Pipeline will miraculously make the country less dependent on Middle Eastern oil even though, TransCanada has no intention of selling the oil to America.
Media outlets reported in 2011 that the Koch Brothers stand to make a fortune if the Keystone XL Pipeline is approved.
Naturally, Mitt Romney said he would approve the Pipeline no matter what.