Environmental News: Media Center

WASHINGTON (January 18, 2012) – The following is a statement by Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, regarding the Obama administration’s decision on the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline:

"The pipeline was rejected for all the right reasons. President Obama put the health and safety of the American people and our air, lands and water -- our national interest -- above the interests of the oil industry.

"His decision represents a triumph of truth over Big Oil's bullying tactics and its disinformation campaign with wildly exaggerated jobs claims.

"Rather than bringing America energy security, the pipeline would have transported dirty Canadian tar sands oil through America's heartlands -- for export to other countries.

"A decision on the pipeline proposal requires nothing less than a thorough and fair-minded analysis of its full effects on our environment and climate. But the schedule forced upon the Obama administration – a 60-day rush to judgment -- left insufficient time to conduct that assessment. Pipeline proponents preordained this outcome."

``If TransCanada reapplies, Keystone XL will still face the same valid public concerns and fierce opposition as the first time. No matter how many times it is proposed, Keystone XL is not in the national interest.’’