Keystone XL Pipeline: NDEQ Releases Pipeline Draft Evaluation Report

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October 30, 2012

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has completed its Draft Evaluation Report for Keystone’s proposed Nebraska Reroute of the Keystone XL Pipeline. This report is available below.

The agency is also announcing that a public hearing and information session will be held in Albion on Dec. 4, 2012 at the Boone County Fairgrounds.

“Input from Nebraskans has been tremendously helpful for our work so far,” said Mike Linder. “Prior to finalizing the report and submitting it to the Governor, we will carefully consider all additional comments made through the end of the hearing.”

TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP (Keystone), proposes to construct, operate, and maintain an 875 mile long, 36-inch diameter crude oil pipeline from the U.S.-Canadian border to Steele City, Nebraska, referred to as the Keystone XL Pipeline Project. Keystone submitted a new proposed route on April 18, 2012. Based on public and agency input, Keystone refined the route in the Supplemental Environmental Report, which was submitted to NDEQ on Sept.5, 2012. NDEQ evaluated Keystone’s proposed refined Nebraska Reroute and has completed its Draft Evaluation Report…

The Draft Evaluation Report provides findings to date regarding TransCanada’s submissions. Among the findings:

• The Nebraska Reroute avoids the region that was identified as the Sand Hills by NDEQ, which is based on extensive research conducted by several state and federal agencies several years ago.
• Keystone provided some route alternatives in the Supplemental Environmental Report which reduces the amount of fragile soils that are crossed in the northern portion of Nebraska.
• The revised route also establishes greater distances from the sources of drinking water in the communities of Clarks and Western.
• The report details environmental, economic, social and other impacts along the Nebraska Reroute.
• Numerous construction and operational mitigation measures would be incorporated to protect groundwater and surface water.
• Keystone will pay for an independent public employee to act as a liaison to facilitate the exchange of information between Keystone and landowners, local communities, and residents.
• Keystone will provide baseline water well testing for domestic and livestock water wells within 300 feet of the center line of the route.
• Keystone will adhere to 57 special pipeline safety conditions that had been previously agreed upon with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (those conditions are included in Appendix F-2 of Nebraska’s draft report).
• Keystone would be responsible for developing an Emergency Response Plan for a product release associated with the operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline and ancillary facilities.
• Keystone has identified several variations of crude oil that would be transported at various times through the pipeline from Alberta, Canada and from the Bakken Formation in Montana and North Dakota. The report contains the general characteristics of the crude oil, which are similar to other crude oils from around the world.  In the event of a spill, the appropriate authorities would have immediate access to the product’s Material Safety Data Sheet.
• In addition to complying with all relevant state and federal cleanup requirements, Keystone will provide evidence that it is carrying $200 million in third party liability insurance to cover cleanup costs for incidents in Nebraska

Draft Evaluation Report Executive Summary (4mb)

Draft Evaluation Report Complete (12mb)

Draft Evaluation Appendices