Review of Keystone Pipeline Scenerio

On Thursday, Jan. 26, during my Wildlife Policy course, the entire class acted out the case of the Keystone Pipeline.

The class was divided into different stakeholders (those who are involved or affected) and this was how the class decided:

• US Senate--not in favor
• US Congress--in favor of pipe
• Nebraska--not in favor of pipe because they didn't want it in their "backyard' if a leak occurred
• SC Citizens--in favor of the pipe due to increased national and local gas prices
• Oil Lobby--in favor of the pipe due to increased jobs; increase national secretary
• Environmental Lobby--not in favor of the pipe
• Citizens at Large--majority in favor of pipe

Overall vote was in favor of the pipe's construction.

Even though this was during class among college students, you can see how some of the thinking occurs on a national scale.

The citizens at large were the ones with the least voice/opinion, whereas the oil lobby and politicians had more of a heard opinion.

Each stakeholder had to address how the construction (or the lack of) will affect the environment, politics, the economy, and the nation's security.

I think the most important thing when determining your stance on a environmental issue is to be abreast on the science, the biology behind the issue. Unfortunately the biology is not considered when officials are making decisions that can affect millions of people.

Some of the science behind the pipeline issue is understanding the ecology of the Nebraska sandhills, the origin of the oil sands, and the hydrology of the Ogallala Aquifer.