Hundreds of people for and against the Keystone XL pipeline cutting through Nebraska to transport crude oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast gathered in Albion Tuesday for the final hearing regarding the pipeline.
Many groups from both sides were on hand, including Bold Nebraska, Union groups, TransCanada and individual land owners. This public hearing was expected to be the only one on the
Keystone XL pipeline route.
Before the hearing began, both supporters and opponents of the pipeline gathered outside of the Boone County fairgrounds event center to rally for their cause.
The NDEQ heard from groups who spoke about the economic impact of the pipeline, such as labor unions who say the pipeline with create thousands of jobs.
TransCanada's Corey Goulet told the assembly that the company thought
Nebraska's review of the $7 billion, 1,700-mile project was good and
the project should be approved.
Meanwhile, opponents of the pipeline argued that the project could contaminate ground-water reserves.
Oglala Lakota Nation Vice President Tom Poor Bear stepped up to
the microphone to say that if the pipeline were to leak and oil were to
get "in the water, our water is no good."
The NDEQ said they have taken all comments into consideration for their report to the governor.
