I have seen a number of articles about the Keystone XL pipeline being routed through Nebraska but none tell the information that people need to know. Do people know that it will only carry tar sands oil and other oil will still be moved by rail and subject to derailment? Do people know that the Koch brothers own the 2 million acres in Alberta, Canada which produces the tar sands oil?  They expect to profit $100 billion per year? Do people know that after refinement in the gulf that the oil is for export? Have people seen pictures of the “pet coke” (a black powder that sticks to eyes and lungs) that is removed from this very dirty oil? It is piled up in football-field size piles along the Calumet River in Chicago causing a health emergency whenever the wind blows. They can’t have Little League games. Do people know that spills are very serious because this dirty oil contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury and sulphur which cause the oil to sink when it enters a river? The Kalamazoo River is dead for 35 miles. Do people know that the taxpayers of Michigan have spent over $1 billion trying to clean it up because the oil company has no responsibility for spills? It is not cleaned up yet from this spill of 2010. Do people realize that only about 35 permanent jobs will result?

Mike Pence is supported by the Koch brothers. Everything this administration does is to enrich their wealthy donors (such as the GOP tax plan). People need to realize this. Piles of pet coke is what we will get from this pipeline. Oh yes, we will also get the heavy smog and resulting health issues from the heavy metals.

Malita Brown
Wilbraham