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TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline Project
Supplemental Environmental Report
for the Nebraska Reroute
Prepared for:
TransCanada Keystone Pipeline LP 717 Texas Street, Suite 2400 Houston, Texas 77002
Prepared By:
exp Energy Services Inc. 1300 Metropolitan Blvd. Tallahassee, Florida 32303 Document Number KXL-TAL-1005-002
Date Submitted September 5, 2012
TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline Project SER for the Nebraska Reroute
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background and Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and Need for the Project ............................................................................................. 5 1.3 Federal Approval Process and Authorizing Actions .................................................................. 5 1.4 Permits and Relationship to Non-federal Policies, Plans, and Programs ................................. 6 1.5 Public Participation .................................................................................................................... 8
2.0 Proposed Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................ 9
2.1.1 Project Description and Location .................................................................................. 9 2.1.2 Nebraska Route Location ........................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Ancillary Facilities Summary....................................................................................... 11 2.1.4 Land Requirements .................................................................................................... 12 2.1.5 Pipeline ROW ............................................................................................................. 12 2.1.6 Additional Temporary Workspace Areas .................................................................... 12 2.1.7 Pipe Stockpile Sites, Railroad Sidings, and Contractor Yards ................................... 12 2.1.8 Construction Camp ..................................................................................................... 13 2.1.9 Access Roads ............................................................................................................. 14 2.1.10 Pump Stations ............................................................................................................ 14 2.1.11 Construction Procedures ............................................................................................ 15
2.2 No Action Alternative ............................................................................................................... 30 2.3 Nebraska Route Alternatives ................................................................................................... 30
2.3.1 Northern Alternative .................................................................................................... 31 2.3.2 Clarks Alternative ....................................................................................................... 37 2.3.3 Western Alternative .................................................................................................... 37
3.0 Affected Environment of Nebraska Reroute ...................................................................... 43 3.1 Climate and Air Quality ............................................................................................................ 43
3.1.1 Climate ........................................................................................................................ 43 3.1.2 Air Quality Regulatory Requirements ......................................................................... 43
3.2 Air Quality Regulatory Requirements ...................................................................................... 43 3.3 Soils ......................................................................................................................................... 44
3.3.1 Summary Soil Characteristics .................................................................................... 45 3.4 Geology ................................................................................................................................... 51
3.4.1 General ....................................................................................................................... 51 3.4.2 Shallow Bedrock ......................................................................................................... 51 3.4.3 Seismic Considerations .............................................................................................. 52 3.4.4 Geologic Hazards ....................................................................................................... 52 3.4.5 Paleontological Resource ........................................................................................... 53
3.5 Water Resources ..................................................................................................................... 54 3.5.1 Surface Water ............................................................................................................. 54 3.5.2 Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 56 3.5.3 Groundwater ............................................................................................................... 56 3.5.4 Water Supplies and Wells .......................................................................................... 61 3.5.5 Floodplains ................................................................................................................. 65 3.5.6 Wetlands and Riparian Areas ..................................................................................... 66
3.6 Terrestrial Vegetation .............................................................................................................. 67 3.6.1 Vegetative Types ........................................................................................................ 67 3.6.2 Biologically Unique Landscapes or Ecoregions ......................................................... 70 3.6.3 Sensitive, Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plant Species ................................... 72 3.6.4 Noxious and Invasive Weeds ..................................................................................... 73
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3.7 Wildlife and Fisheries .............................................................................................................. 73 3.7.1 Terrestrial Wildlife Species ......................................................................................... 73 3.7.2 Big Game Species ...................................................................................................... 73 3.7.3 Small Game Species .................................................................................................. 74 3.7.4 Nongame Species ...................................................................................................... 74 3.7.5 Federal and State Protected Species ......................................................................... 74 3.7.6 Migratory Birds ........................................................................................................... 75 3.7.7 Aquatic Resources ..................................................................................................... 78 3.7.8 Sensitive Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Species ..................................................... 80
3.8 Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 81 3.8.1 Land Ownership and Use ........................................................................................... 81 3.8.2 Developed Land/Residential/Commercial Areas ........................................................ 83 3.8.3 Grassland/Rangeland/Agriculture .............................................................................. 83 3.8.4 Wetlands and Waterbodies ........................................................................................ 83 3.8.5 Recreation and Special Interest Areas ....................................................................... 83 3.8.6 Noise ......................................................................................................................... 85 3.8.7 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................ 86
3.9 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................. 86 3.10 Social and Economic Conditions ............................................................................................. 89
3.10.1 Socioeconomics ......................................................................................................... 89 3.10.2 Population and Employment....................................................................................... 89 3.10.3 Income ........................................................................................................................ 90 3.10.4 Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. 90 3.10.5 Public Services and Facilities ..................................................................................... 91 3.10.6 Fiscal Relationships .................................................................................................... 92
3.11 Public Safety ............................................................................................................................ 93 3.11.1 Operations and Maintenance ..................................................................................... 94 3.11.2 Emergency Response ................................................................................................ 96
4.0 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 98 4.1 Assumptions ............................................................................................................................ 99 4.2 Guidelines ................................................................................................................................ 99 4.3 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................... 100
4.3.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................. 100 4.3.2 Geology, Minerals, and Paleontology ....................................................................... 100 4.3.3 Soils ....................................................................................................................... 101 4.3.4 Water Resources ...................................................................................................... 103 4.3.5 Vegetation ................................................................................................................ 104 4.3.6 Wildlife, Aquatic Resources, and Sensitive Species ................................................ 105 4.3.7 Land Use and Aesthetics.......................................................................................... 106 4.3.8 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................... 107 4.3.9 Socioeconomics ....................................................................................................... 108 4.3.10 Public Health and Safety .......................................................................................... 109
4.4 Environmental Consequences Summary .............................................................................. 113
5.0 Environmental Impact Summary ..................................................................................... 115
6.0 Electric Power Lines ....................................................................................................... 119
7.0 Keystone XL Project Glossary ........................................................................................ 121
8.0 References ..................................................................................................................... 129
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List of Appendices
Appendix A Pipeline Aerial Route Sheets ............................................................................... A-1
Appendix B USGS Location Pipeline Route Sheets ............................................................... B-1
Appendix C NDEQ Feedback Matrix ...................................................................................... C-1
Appendix D Route Change Figures ........................................................................................ D-1
Appendix E Summary of Soils ................................................................................................ E-1
Appendix F Water Resources ................................................................................................ F-1
Appendix G Noxious Weeds .................................................................................................. G-1
Appendix H Keystone Construction/Reclamation Plans and Documentation .......................... H-1
Appendix I Wildlife .................................................................................................................. I-1
Appendix J Nebraska SHPO Correspondence (Confidential) .................................................. J-1
Appendix K Cultural Resource Survey Reports (Confidential) ................................................ K-1
Appendix L CMRP ..................................................................................................................L-1
Appendix M Emergency Generator Air Permit Exemption Letter ............................................M-1
Appendix N Crude Oil Fact Sheets ......................................................................................... N-1
List of Figures
Figure ES-1 Executive Summary ............................................................................................... 6
Figure 1.1-1 Proposed Keystone XL Project Route .................................................................... 4
Figure 2.1-11 Typical Pipeline Construction Sequence ............................................................ 18
Figure 2.3-1 Northern Alternative ............................................................................................. 39
Figure 2.3-2 Clarks WHPA Alternative ..................................................................................... 40
Figure 2.3-3 Western WHPA Alternative .................................................................................. 41
Figure 3.3-1 Severe Wind Erodible Soils .................................................................................. 49
Figure 3.3-2 Valentine Soils ..................................................................................................... 50
Figure 3.5-1 Subwatershed Hydrologic Units .......................................................................... 55
Figure 3.5-2 Minimum Depth to Groundwater .......................................................................... 58
Figure 3.5-3 Maximum Depth to Groundwater ......................................................................... 59
Figure 3.5-4 Wellhead Protection Areas within One Mile .......................................................... 63
List of Tables
Table 1.4-1 Nebraska Permits, Licenses, Approval, and Consultation Requirements ................ 6
Table 2.1-1 Summary of Lands Affected .................................................................................. 10
Table 2.1-2 Counties Crossed by the Keystone XL Project ...................................................... 11
Table 2.1-3 Known Intermediate Mainline Valve Locations ...................................................... 11
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Table 2.1.4 Potential Nebraska Construction Camp Permit Table ............................................ 14
Table 2.1-1 Minimum Pipeline Cover ....................................................................................... 17
Table 2.1-6 Waterbodies Crossed Using the Horizontal Directional Drilling Method .................. 26
Table 2.1-7 Nebraska Construction Spreads ............................................................................ 30
Table 2.3-1 Nebraska Preferred Alternative Route Changes Between April and August 2012 ......................................................................................................... 32
Table 2.3-2 Comparison of Significant Alternative Routes ........................................................ 34
Table 2.3-3 Slope Characterizations ........................................................................................ 36
Table 3.3-1 Soil Characteristics of Concern for Potentially Affected by Project Construction and Operation (Miles) ....................................................................... 46
Table 3.3-2 Soil Characteristics of Concern Potentially Affected by Project Construction and Operation (Acres) ...................................................................... 47
Table 3.4-1 Physiographic Provinces in Nebraska ................................................................... 51
Table 3.4-2 Nebraska Landslide Incidence and Susceptibility along the Proposed Project .................................................................................................................. 52
Table 3.4-3 Geologic Units with Moderate to Very High Paleontological Sensitivity within the Project Area in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska ......................... 53
Table 3.5-1 Locations with Shallow Groundwater along the Preferred Alternative Route .................................................................................................................... 60
Table 3.5-2 Identified Private Wells within 100 Feet of the Preferred Alternative Route Centerline ............................................................................................................. 62
Table 3.5-3 Wellhead protection areas within 1 mile of the Preferred Alternative Route Centerline ............................................................................................................. 64
Table 3.5-4 Areas with High Risk of Flooding Crossed by the Project ...................................... 66
Table 3.5-5 Wetlands Crossed by the Preferred Alternative Route ........................................... 67
Table 3.6-1 Miles of Vegetative Communities Crossed by the Project ROW ............................ 68
Table 3.6-2 Estimated Impacts on Vegetation Communities of Conservation Concern Occurring along the Proposed Project Route ........................................................ 68
Table 3.6-3 Native Grassland Type and Quality in Nebraska ................................................... 72
Table 3.6-4 Noxious Weeds Found Along the FEIS Portion of the Preferred Alternative Route .................................................................................................. 73
Table 3.7-1 Keystone XL Pipeline – Nebraska Threatened and Endangered Species Range ................................................................................................................... 76
Table 3.7-2 Game Fishery Classification along Route .............................................................. 78
Table 3.7-3 Surface Water Classification for Nebraska ............................................................ 80
Table 3.8-1 Surface Ownership Crossed by the Proposed Project ........................................... 82
Table 3.8-2 Land Use Crossed ................................................................................................ 82
Table 3.8-3 Land Use Impacts (Acres) ..................................................................................... 83
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Table 3.8-4 Recreation and Special Interest Areas Crossed by the Project .............................. 84
Table 3.10-1 Potentially Affected Communities along the Project - Nebraska .......................... 89
Table 3.10-2 Socioeconomic Conditions in Affected Counties .................................................. 90
Table 3.10-3 Housing Assessment for Counties along the Preferred Route ............................. 91
Table 3.10-4 Existing Public Services and Facilities along Preferred Alternative Route ........... 92
Table 3.10-5 Estimated Property Taxes from Keystone XL Construction ................................. 92
Table 3.11-1 Physicochemical Properties of Various Crude Oils .............................................. 95
Table 5-1 Impact Summary .................................................................................................... 115
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List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
AHPA Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act
ARG American Research Group, Ltd
ARPA Archeological Resources Protection Act
ATWA Additional Temporary Workspace Area
BGEPA Bald and Gold Eagle Protection Act
bgs below ground surface
BA Biological Assessment
bbl Barrel
BCC Birds of Conservation Concern
bgs below ground surface
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BMP best management practice
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CMRP Construction, Mitigation, and Reclamation Plan
CSD Conservation and Survey Well Database
CRP Conservation Reserve Program
CWA Clean Water Act
dBA decibels on the A-weighted scale
deg Degree
DEQ Department of Environmental Quality
DNR Department of Natural Resources
DOR Department of Revenue
DOS Department of State
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EO Executive Order
ERP Emergency Response Plan
ESA Environmental Species Act
FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHA Federal Highway Administration
FSA Farm Service Agency
HCA High Consequence Area
HDD horizontal directional drill
IMLV Intermediate main line valve
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IMP Integrity Management Plan
LB 4 Legislative Bill 4
LB 1161 Legislative Bill 1161
Ldn day-night sound level
Leq equivalent sound level
LUCL Land Use/Land Cover
LRP Low Revegetation Potential
M meter
MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act
mg/l milligrams per liter
mi mile
MLV main line valve
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MP Mile Post
NAGPRA Native America Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
NE Nebraska
NEDEQ/NDEQ Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
NEDNR or DNR Nebraska Department of Natural Resources
NeHBS Nebraska Historic Building Survey
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NGPC Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
NHPA National Historic Preservation Act of 1986
NFO Non-significant Fossil Occurrences
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPPD Nebraska Public Power District
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
NREC National Rural Electric Cooperative
NRHP National Register of Historic Places
NSHS Nebraska State Historical Society
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board
OCC Operations Control Center
OPS Office of Pipeline Safety
PEM palustrine emergent wetland
PFO palustrine forested wetland
PFYC Potential Fossil Yield Classification
PHMSA Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration
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PMP Pipeline Maintenance Program
PRB Power Review Board
PS Pump Station
PSS Palustrine Scrub Shrub Wetland
PWS Public Water Supply
R-EMAP Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
ROW Right-of-Way
RWBC Rainwater Basin Complex
RV
SCADA
Recreational Vehicle
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
sec section
SEIS Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
SER Supplemental Environmental Report
SFL Significant Fossil Locales
SFW State Fire Marshal
SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer
SPCC Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure
SPP Southwest Power Pool
SSURGO Soil Survey Geographic Database
SWPA Source Water Protection Area
T&E Threatened and Endangered Species
TSS Total suspended Solids
TWAs Temporary Workspace Areas
USA Unusually Sensitive Area
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDOT/DOT U.S. Department of Transportation
USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USGS U.S. Geological Survey
WEG Wind Erodibility Group
WHPA Well Head Protection Area
WRP Wetland Reserve Program
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Executive Summary
This Supplemental Environmental Report (SER) is filed with the Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality (NDEQ) as the next step in the State’s review of a proposed reroute of
the Keystone XL Pipeline Project (Project) to avoid the Sandhills in Nebraska. The SER is also
being filed with the US Department of State (DOS) as part of the federal review of the proposed
Project. The preferred alternative route addressed in this SER is intended to be included as
part of the DOS National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process.1 The SER
represents an important part of Keystone’s ongoing effort to meet its commitment to address the
State’s concerns regarding the route of the pipeline.
In response to feedback received, the SER updates the preferred alternative route of the
Keystone XL Pipeline around the Sandhills in Nebraska. As shown in Figure ES-1 and
discussed below, the updated route passes through portions of Keya Paha, Boyd, Holt,
Antelope, Boone, Nance, Merrick, Polk, York, Fillmore, Saline and Jefferson Counties.
The SER also provides updated information regarding proposed construction in Nebraska and
responds to requests for additional information about the project from the NDEQ in the
Feedback Report the agency issued on July 17, 2012.
The SER provides information to allow NDEQ to conduct an analysis of the environmental,
economic, social, and other impacts associated with the proposed route and route alternatives
in Nebraska as allowed by state statute (Nebraska Statutes, Sec. 57-1503).
Background
In September 2008, Keystone filed an application with the DOS for a Presidential Permit
authorizing the construction and operation of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Project at the
U.S.-Canada border crossing location in Montana. Upon receipt of that application, DOS led a
comprehensive, three-year environmental review of all aspects of the original Keystone XL
Project.
The environmental review culminated August 26, 2011 with the release of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Keystone XL Project. This review was the most
detailed and comprehensive environmental review ever undertaken for a cross border crude oil
pipeline. The FEIS concluded that “[t]he analysis of potential impacts associated with
construction and normal operation of the proposed Project suggests that there would be no
significant impacts to most resources along the proposed Project corridor…”. (FEIS at p.3.15-1).
In November 2011, the DOS determined that, in order to make the required National Interest
Determination with respect to the original Keystone XL Pipeline Project, it was necessary to
________________________ 1 The DEQ may “Evaluate any route for an oil pipeline within, through or across the state and submitted by a pipeline
carrier for the stated purpose of being included in a federal agency's or agencies' National Environmental Policy Act
review process.”(Nebraska Statutes, Sec. 57-1503.)
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ES-2
conduct an in-depth assessment of potential alternative routes that would avoid the Sandhills
region in Nebraska.
Despite the successful completion of the NEPA review process, which found that Keystone
could be safely constructed and operated as proposed, Keystone agreed to reroute the
proposed project in Nebraska, in response to public concerns, to move it outside the Sandhills.
Because the route had been reviewed and approved by DOS, Montana, and South Dakota, the
entry point of the project in Nebraska and the terminus of the project at Steele City would not
change.
Subsequently, the Nebraska Legislature created a framework for the State review of proposed
routes of major oil pipelines. As a result, the NDEQ was authorized to review the proposed
reroute of this Project in the State of Nebraska and to coordinate with federal agencies in the
preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed reroute. To
fulfill its responsibilities, NDEQ developed a process for the review, providing opportunities for
public input and complying with the statutory requirements that were developed by the
Legislature.
In December, NDEQ issued an ecoregion map created by state and federal agencies
delineating the Sandhills area. Keystone then developed corridors for the reroute in Nebraska
that avoided the Sandhills, as delineated by NDEQ. In April, Keystone submitted a report
assessing those alternative route corridors and proposing a preferred alternative route corridor.
The preferred route corridor was selected to avoid the Sandhills while balancing other routing
and constructability criteria.
Upon receipt of Keystone’s April reroute report, DEQ posted the document online and initiated
an extensive public review process, which included informational meetings on the proposed
reroute corridors, as well as a process for submitting written comments to the agency.
In July 2012, after reviewing Keystone’s April reroute report and studying the public’s
comments, the NDEQ provided a Feedback Report to Keystone that included a summary of
public and agency comments on the proposed reroute.
This SER responds to the NDEQ Feedback Report, as well as additional feedback received
from stakeholders and information gathered during Keystone’s further on-the-ground
evaluations. The SER identifies a revised preferred alternative route that includes a number of
minor route refinements and three significant route alternatives. While the proposed pipeline can
be built and operated safely on the previously identified corridor, these modifications are
responsive to feedback received and further reduce impacts of construction and operation. The
three more significant route alternatives are discussed below.
Northern Alternative
As noted, in December 2011, the NDEQ defined the areas characterized as Sandhills that
Keystone was to avoid. Nonetheless, numerous comments from landowners and further
consideration by the NDEQ suggested that there are other areas that exhibit similar
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ES-3
characteristics to the Sandhills, even though they are outside of the area delineated by
NDEQ. These areas include fragile sandy soils similar to the Sandhills. The previously
identified route corridor is constructible using the successful and commonly used techniques for
construction in sandy soils and areas of shallow groundwater tables. However, in response to
the NDEQ’s feedback and comments received, Keystone developed the Northern Alternative to
avoid these features. This preferred alternative, compared to the April 2012 preferred route
corridor, is depicted in Figure 2.3-1.
Clarks Alternative
During the public comment period, and through NDEQ review, commenters expressed concern
that the April 2012 preferred route corridor would cross an area up-gradient of the Clarks
Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) and where the depth to groundwater is shallow. The well
within the WHPA is the source of the town’s water supply. This section of the April 2012
preferred route incorporated the route that was included in the 2011 FEIS. The NDEQ
Feedback Report suggested that Keystone consider routing the pipeline down gradient of the
well head protection area (WHPA) for the town of Clarks. These comments were made
notwithstanding that the WHPA is modeled to provide a 20 year protection buffer around the
well intake, and that the FEIS route was approximately 1.70 miles outside of the WHPA buffer
boundary.
In response to the feedback received, Keystone has developed an alternative route – the
“Clarks Alternative” – to the east of the town of Clarks, in order to locate the pipeline down-
gradient of the WHPA. The Clarks Alternative places the pipeline 3.50 miles down-gradient
(east) of the WHPA boundary.
Western Alternative
After the FEIS was published in August, 2011, a new WHPA was established for the city of
Western that extended further west, overlapping the FEIS route. Although PHMSA allows
pipelines like Keystone to cross WHPAs with special precautions and although Keystone will
implement such precautions across the Project, Keystone examined an alternative to move the
route west, out of the WHPA. The alternative is depicted in Figure ES-1 and 2.3-3.
Response to Requests for Additional Information
The NDEQ Feedback Report summarized the public comments received on Keystone’s April
2012 reroute report. Keystone’s responses to the summarized public comments, as well as to
specific NDEQ comments and questions, are presented in Appendix C of this SER. Many of
these questions have been fully addressed previously in the FEIS, which has been incorporated
by reference in Keystone’s updated Presidential Permit application. The FEIS is available online
at http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov/ under “Archive” and “State Department
Documents”.
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Pipeline Safety
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is mandated to regulate pipeline safety under
federal law (Title 49, USC Chapter 601) and does so through the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). PHMSA is responsible for protecting the American
public and the environment by ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials
to industry and consumers by all transportation modes, including the nation‘s pipelines. Through
PHMSA, the DOT develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally
sound operation of the nation‘s 2.3-million-mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly 1
million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air. PHMSA administers the
national regulatory program to ensure the safe transportation of hazardous liquids, including
crude oil, by pipeline. PHMSA develops regulations that address safety in the design,
construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and emergency response for hazardous liquid
pipelines and related facilities. PHMSA is responsible for regulations that require safe
operations of hazardous liquid pipelines to protect human health and the environment from
unplanned pipeline incidents.
Pipelines that carry gasoline, diesel fuel, crude oil or other hazardous liquids must implement
additional safety measures if they cross a particularly sensitive area such as the WHPA for a
municipal drinking water supply. (More information is available in the FEIS, Section 3.13.1.1.)
According to the FEIS, the incorporation of the 57 additional safety measures to which Keystone
has committed “would result in a Project that would have a degree of safety over any other
typically constructed domestic oil pipeline system under current code and a degree of safety
along the entire length of the pipeline system similar to that which is required in High
Consequence Areas (HCAs) as defined in 49 CFR 195.450.” (FEIS, Sec. 3.13.1, page 3.13-4.)
PHMSA has the legal authority to inspect and enforce any items contained in a pipeline
operator‘s procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies, and would
therefore have the legal authority to inspect and enforce the 57 Special Conditions if the Project
is approved.
According to Nebraska law, “[t]he Legislature acknowledges and respects the exclusive federal
authority over safety issues established by the federal law, the Pipeline Safety Act of 1994, 49
U.S.C. 60101 et seq., and the express preemption provision stated in that act.” (Neb. Rev. Stat.
57-1402(2)).
Other Changes
The Keystone XL Pipeline Project passes through areas with very low density population and a
low availability of commercial, temporary housing facilities. In Montana and South Dakota,
Keystone has planned to use temporary camps to house workers and minimize adverse impacts
of a temporary population increase. In northern Nebraska, conditions are similar, though to a
lesser degree. Consequently, Keystone is investigating the possibility of building a temporary
Contractor’s Camp in northern Nebraska that would alleviate the lack of short term housing
during construction.
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ES-5
In Conclusion
This SER is consistent with Keystone’s commitment to reroute the project in Nebraska to avoid
the Sandhills. In addition, it is responsive to feedback received from the public and from the
NDEQ. The analysis presented in this SER supports NDEQ’s review and approval of a preferred
route in Nebraska.
Although the pipeline can be built and operated safely on routes that have already been studied
and in many cases for which landowner agreement has already been achieved and easements
purchased, Keystone has again agreed to modify its route to accommodate the considerations
raised in the State Feedback Report.
Nebraska
Kansas
South Dakota
Iowa
Dakota
Antelope
Furnas Thayer
Wayne
Knox
Nance
Lancaster
KeyaPaha
Cherry
Pierce
Colfax
Merrick
WheelerLoup
Buffalo
Rock
Madison
Nuckolls
Dodge
Seward
Otoe
Holt
Sherman
Dawson
Saunders
Garfield
Platte
Blaine
Boone
Cass
Fillmore
Cedar
Burt
Frontier Adams
Boyd
PolkHoward
Valley
Phelps
Stanton
Gage
Clay SalineGosper
Harlan Jefferson
Hamilton
Dixon
Cuming
Kearney
Greeley
Butler
Custer
Thurston
Webster
Brown
Hall York
Franklin
LEGENDVICINITY MAP
0 30 6015 Miles
KEYSTONE XL PROJECTFIGURE ES-1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY(NEBRASKA)
Energy Services Inc.PREPARED BYexp
ÁRE-ROUTE PORTION OF THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IN NEBRASKAFEIS PORTION OF PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IN NEBRASKAAPRIL 2012 CORRIDORORIGINAL FEIS ROUTESTATE BOUNDARYCOUNTY BOUNDARY
Á
Steele City"
CLARKSALTERNATIVE
NORTHERNALTERNATIVE
WESTERNALTERNATIVE