Missouri's Keystone Pipeline

It seems an oil company wants to run a new oil pipeline from Cushing, Illinois, through our state and down to Oklahoma: Nixon said Tuesday that his administration would work to approve whatever permits are necessary for Enbridge (U.S.) Inc. to build a 600-mile pipeline from Flanagan, Ill., to Cushing, Okla. The company is in the early stages of the project but hopes to begin construction in the middle of next year. With this, a couple things seem clear. First, it's surprising we even hear of this kind of development. I think it used to be, something like this would have just sailed through and been done with little or no real awareness or input from or by the public. With computers and the internet, combined with our awareness of the environment and what can rather tragically happen with oil spills, I think people are more aware and involved. That said, my second point is that I would imagine this will sail through the Statehouss in Jefferson City. I don't think Missourians will fight it, by and large, in spite of the fact that it goes so close to our Mark Twain National Forest and over a great deal of important water sources including the Missouri River and the various rivers in Southern Missouri. Apparently it goes along the line of another pipeline. That will surely be used as proof there will be no problems with this new pipeline, whether it's true or not. Link to original article: http://www.kmbc.com/politics/30340845/detail.html; To see route of proposed pipeline: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl