New Keystone XL Water Crossing Permit–Submit Comments NOW
In an effort to avoid the time & effort involved in individual water crossing permits after their Nationwide 12 Permit was put on hold by the courts, TransCanada has recently applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (US ACE) for a Section 10/404 permit for these same water crossings along the route.
This may be the FINAL opportunity for public comment on the project ahead of the November election, and the Corps needs to hear from the public that we are still adamantly opposed to this threat to our land, water, and communities. Send YOUR comments today to: nwo-kxl-pn@usace.army.mil
The public notice, which was filed jointly with the SD Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) and the NE Department of Energy & Environment provides for written public comment on potential impacts of the project. Unfortunately (and we encourage you to note this as part of your comments), as of this writing–OVER TWO WEEKS into the comment period–the US ACE has failed to provide a link to the Individual Permit (IP) application on which the public is supposed to comment.
Scope of consideration for Section 10/404 Permit Approval (as well as state certification) is as follows (from the US ACE site):
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of aquatic resources. The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposals must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the activity will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food production, and, in general the needs and welfare of the people.
For more information on public comment and the decision-making process, see the Keystone XL Project Page on the US ACE website HERE. Virtual public hearings have also been scheduled for Sept. 28, 29, and Oct. 1.
YOU can comment TODAY, by emailing: nwo-kxl-pn@usace.army.mil
In addition, comments can be left via voicemail by calling (402) 995-2027.
When leaving a message, please clearly state your name and comment which will be added to the formal record.
Or, mail written comments to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
South Dakota Regulatory Office
28563 Powerhouse Road, Room 118
Pierre, SD 57501
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