LINKS Sept. 14, 2011

BORDER

Detroit bridge owner gets Koch help [Bloomberg]

More secure passports coming next year [CP]

US federal prosecutors discuss northern border issues [WSJ]

Holder: Officers from US, Canada will work on cross-border investigations [AP]

Harper, Obama to give details of border security deal [Postmedia News]

Much good has come from tightened border security [Peace Arch News]

TRADE/ECONOMY

Ottawa says it will fight Buy American measures [Toronto Star]

US envoy says trade with Canada is top issue [AP]

Canadians anxious about Buy American provisions in Obama’s jobs bill [CP]

Geithner: Economy in an early stage of crisis [Real Clear Politics]

Obama declares ‘national emergency’ for jobs [Politico]

Strong Cdn dollar not only reason for shopping in US [CBC]

Weak job market has Canadians looking north [Postmedia News]

US media juggernaut still a threat to Canada [Troy Media News]

Cdn doctors still make dramatically less than US counterparts: study [National Post]

DIPLOMACY

Doer says he won’t run for NDP leadership [Toronto Star]

MILITARY

Canada to extend Libya mission by 3 months [CTV]

Canadian companies will benefit from military intervention: Libyan official [Postmedia News]

NATO balks at Libya nation-building, policing [AP]

ENERGY

Oliver stumps for Keystone pipeline in California [CP]

Peter Lougheed opposes Keystone pipeline [CBC]

Yedlin: Lougheed comment sparks pipeline debate [Calgary Herald]

Oil patch steams ahead [Financial Post]

Tar-sands showdown [Wired]

10 reasons why the Keystone pipeline will be built [National Review]

Over 1,200 Keystone protesters arrested [Living on Earth]

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Twitter/luizachsavage

Category: Today's Links

LINKS Sept. 7, 2011

BORDER

Border agent says there’s nothing to do, money is being wasted [CNN]

Canada dropped $92-billion on security post-9/11 [Postmedia News]

Canadian trucker admits smuggling cocaine from US [AP]

Tragedy forged new reality [CP]

Schumer calls on Feds to move ahead with joint border crossing [newzjunky.com]

Hampson: 9/11 and the Remaking of Canada [iPolitics.ca]

Robertson: The border: The bygone days of ‘pass friend’ [Embassy mag]

After 9/11, border patrol doubles, fewer tourists cross border, more criminals caught [Detroit Free Press]

More Canadian manufacturers encountering difficulty as they try to cross into the US [NB Business Journal]

Georgia man stays in jail after border child porn bust [Winnipeg Sun]

TRADE/ECONOMY

Flaherty wants probe into ‘irritating’ US-Canada price gaps [Postmedia News]

How Canadians get access to US-only deals [Globe and Mail]

Is the US ready for Little Mosque on the Prairie [BBC]

Canadian dealers get ‘carve out’ from US regulations [Financial Post]

MILITARY

Lt. Gen. Bouchard assesses NATO’s mission in Libya [NPR]

Plan would keep small force in Iraq past deadline [NY Times]

ENERGY

Sen. Johannes, second prominent Nebraska Republican opposes Keystone pipeline [Des Moines Register]

Study: Tar sands oil will reach US sans pipeline [Forbes]

Oil sands need US workers: Alberta minister [Bloomberg]

Dalai Lama joins Keystone pipeline opponents [Calgary Sun]

McKibben: What comes next for oil sands action [grist.org]

Nobel Laureates urge Obama to reject pipeline [Huffington Post]

Canada minister ‘increasingly optimistic’ about Keystone approval [Dow Jones]

Cdn ambassador confident pipeline will be approved for jobs [Postmedia News]

Oil-funded study: more drilling would add 1.4 million jobs [Reuters]

Are Canadians growing apathetic about the oil sands? [Huffington Post]

Keystone XL benefactor to send oil overseas [Michigan Messenger]

Letter to Oprah Winfrey on ‘ethical oil’ ads [rabble.ca]

***

Twitter/luizachsavage

Category: Today's Links

US green groups file suit over oil sands shipments

April 1, 2011
By

From their press release:

April 1, 2011, For Immediate Release

 

Missoula County, Conservation Organizations File Suit To Seek A Full Environmental Review Of Mega-Load Project

 

Missoula, Montana – Today, Missoula County and the National Wildlife Federation - along with the Montana Environmental Information Center and the Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club represented by the Western Environmental Law Center (Missoula office) and local attorneys Robert Gentry and Summer Nelson - filed a lawsuit in Montana District Court to protect Montana’s citizens, economy and ecosystems from the potentially harmful impacts of Exxon/Mobil’s mega-load transport project.

 

In February, the Montana Department of Transportation erroneously concluded there would be no environmental or economically significant impacts from a project that seeks to drive over 200 mega-sized loads across Montana’s highways to the tar sands in Alberta, Canada.

 

Tom France, an attorney with the National Wildlife Federation, said: “Exxon’s mega-loads put Montana at risk while locking us into a future of dirty energy from abroad.  Before we let polluters run roughshod through Montana we must have a proper review of the environmental costs and risks.”

 

Kyla Wiens, energy advocate with the Montana Environmental Information Center asserts that: “Exxon/Imperial Oil’s plan is shortsighted and ignores the project’s significant impacts on Montana citizens and our environment.”

 

The plaintiffs seek a full environmental impact statement on the project.  An EIS would evaluate a full range of alternatives, including alternative routes.  The proposed route across Lolo Pass, along the Blackfoot River and up the Rocky Mountain Front will create potential long-term costs to Montana taxpayers with wear and tear on highways, bridges and sewer lines. It will also create impacts to roadway safety, emergency services, prized waterways, tourism and business sites.

 

Sarah McMillan, attorney with the Western Law Environmental Center argues:  “The agency’s review of the project failed to take a hard look at all the impacts of the construction and use of an industrial corridor that runs along some of Montana’s most treasured rivers and streams, and through our scenic mountains and rural Montana.”

 

Additionally, the plaintiffs claim this project should be evaluated regarding its intended facilitation of carbon intensive tar sands mining and consequent heavy-crude oil production which contributes profoundly to the impacts of climate change in Montana and worldwide.

 

Sierra Club member, John Wolverton said: “As a trip leader, I have guided many people on canoe trips and hikes in the wild-lands that would be affected by these mega-loads. I want to ensure these wild places I care about are protected from degradation due to climate change and corporate greed.”

 

 

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