In a stunning article today in the New York Times, the US State Department not only looked the other way but approved an environmental impact study of the Keystone XL pipeline to a company that had done business with TransCanada in the past. Of course this company, Cardno Entrix, found no environmental impact from the pipeline.
In an even more stunningly dishonest statement, assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs spokesperson Kerrie-Ann Jones had the audacity to further claim:
The State Department followed all federal regulations and had closely managed and supervised the company’s work, adding, “We have final say.”
She said that TransCanada had managed the bidding process and recommended three candidates with Cardno Entrix topping the list. The department vetted Cardno Entrix by consulting with other agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. TransCanada pays the consultant directly, but would not reveal the amount.
Ms. Jones said that Cardno Entrix provided a solid and impartial study, which became more robust through the draft process, with advice from agencies like the E.P.A. “I think it required a lot a lot of work to get it where it is now,” she said. “We have done an objective environmental impact statement.”
This is not the first time the State Department has been caught tilting the playing field to the pipeline and TransCanada. And these people wonder why the Occupy Wall Street protests are spreading around the globe, especially in the United States. You can shovel the shit for big corporations only so far before people catch on. If you thought Obama truly has an open mind about the pipeline, think again. Congratulations TransCanada, the fix is in the bag.
Read the whole article. It’s all in there.
