The Nebraska Public Service Commission must decide by Nov. 23 whether to approve or reject the project, based on evidence presented at hearings that could continue through Friday. The elected commission is comprised of four Republicans and one Democrat.
Tribes in Nebraska have signed a treaty with First Nations in Canada to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline, along with three other pipeline projects in Canada.
That brings the number to over 150 Tribes and First Nations opposed to Keystone, Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota (that begins in Canada), Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion through British Columbia and TransCanada’s Energy East.
“Along with our Indigenous allies all along the KXL route like the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) and all over Turtle Island (North America), we recognize the grave dangers in allowing this ‘Black Snake’ to enter our homelands”, said Chairman Larry Wright Jr. of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska in a press release.
“As the State of Nebraska stands poised to make a potentially life-altering decision about permitting this poisonous bitumen to be inflicted on its population, we stand poised to protect all life now and in the future.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already approved the Line 3 and Trans Mountain projects but First Nations have vowed to stop them.
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