by Megan Haymond

On Wednesday, February 26, a State Department investigation decided that the appointment of a contractor to carry out an environmental impact study on the Keystone Pipeline who had previously worked for TransCanada was not a conflict of interest. TransCanada is the company interested in building the pipeline that the environmentalists and conservatives have been fighting over for years. The results of the environmental impact study showed that the line would have little to no effect on climate change, sending uproar through environmentalist groups. 

Secretary of State John Kerry will likely promote the project because of the positive report. However, climate change is a key issue he hoped to address as Secretary of State. Kerry is currently studying the plans to develop a national position stating whether or not it is in the country’s best interest. Some environmentalists are planning a march on Washington on Sunday to protest the pipeline and handcuff themselves to the gates of the White House to demonstrate their willingness to be arrested for the cause of preventing the pipeline.

The construction of the pipeline has four phases, three of which are already in action. The last stage, Keystone XL Expansion, would extend from Hardsity, Alberta into Steele City. Phase three, the Gulf Coast Pipeline Project, was only recently begun on January 22, 2014. The fourth phase has not only caused controversy because of environmental concerns, but because it crosses country lines from Canada to the United States requiring a State Permit.

While the environmental report proved to be more extensive than necessary in many ways to demonstrate there is no conflict of interest, many are still worried it is incomplete. California Senator Boxer and chairwoman of the Environmental Committee stated the report lacked sufficient evidence for the impact of the pipeline on human health. However, the impact of the pipeline on health is difficult to conjure, except that if it would truly not increase further climate change and has sound plans to avoid oil spills, not much other research can be done.