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Pipeline spills bad for environment

James T. Heires

Jan. 27, 2015 4:02 pm

To the editor:

Just say no to the Keystone XL pipeline project. I wish to refute William Peterson's Jan. 17 letter 'Obama should approve pipeline,” as he cites an Obama environmental study that claims that moving tar sands oil by pipeline carries no more risk than moving the stuff via other means.

A Jan. 17 New York Times article 'The other pipeline you should worry about” gives a graphic example of the dangers of a tar sands pipeline spill on Line 61.

Because tar sands are so viscous, poisonous chemicals such as benzene are added before transit. When a spill happens (not if), it puts people's lives at stake.

In all the talk about Keystone XL, we're overlooking Line 61.

James T. Heires

Cedar Rapids

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