Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice

An open letter from CCEJ to President Obama

Dear Mr. President:

As the Interim Executive Director of Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice (CCEJ) I write this letter on behalf the CCEJ Board of Directors and Membership to officially state opposition to the proposed Keystone XL Gulf Coast Expansion Project. CCEJ joins the growing voices of opposition to this project by environmentalists and those concerned about the short and long-term impact of continuing with the construction of the pipeline. The three main reasons for opposing the pipeline are:

Keystone XL threatens to worsen climate change by transporting up to 900,000 barrels a day of tar sands oil into America. This is equivalent to releasing the same carbon pollution of building more than 7 new coal plants or putting more than 5 million new cars on the road each year. This pipeline threatens America’s future ability to address climate change by increasing dependence on oil and diverting resources and focus away from the need to develop wind and solar sources of energy.

Keystone XL will pollute the air we breathe. The pipeline will double America’s consumption of tar sand oil which contains, on average, 11 times more sulfur, 11 times more nickel, 6 times more nitrogen, and 5 times more lead than conventional oil.

Keystone XL threatens to pollute America’s potable water supply. The pipeline will cross directly through 5 states in the nation's heartland, threatening sensitive land and rivers as well as the Ogallala aquifer, which provides 30% of agricultural water and drinking water to 2 million Americans. Tar sands pipelines are particularly prone to rupture, thus adding an additional threat to water supplies.

The potentially catastrophic impact Keystone XL will have on the health of the American people demands decisive action now. CCEJ requests that you use the power and influence of your elected position to stop further construction and expansion on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

On behalf of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice Board of Directors and Members,

Thomas M. Colligan, Interim Executive Director

Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice