Keystone pipeline impact statement from State department released

Oil sands mine site in Alberta (Credit: TastyCakes, via Wikimedia Commons)

The U.S. Department of State has released an environmental impact statement on the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, according to National Public Radio. The proposed pipeline would carry oil from tar sands in Alberta, Canada south toward Gulf Coast refineries.

In the statement, the State Department finds the project is not likely to make climate change any worse, despite acknowledging that oil from tar sands releases 17 percent more greenhouse gases when it burns than crude oil. Officials say this is because oil producers would likely find another way to sell the oil.

TransCanada, the company hoping to build the pipeline, says 9,000 jobs would be created if the project is approved. Many of those would likely be temporary construction jobs.

Image: Oil sands mine site in Alberta (Credit: TastyCakes, via Wikimedia Commons)