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Tell MT Gov. Bullock: Halt All Keystone XL Construction Due to the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic TC Energy, the corporation behind Keystone XL, wants to rush construction of the massive tar sands pipeline in rural northern Montana this week. If enough of us raise our voices, Montana Governor Steve Bullock can protect the public’s health and safety and stop construction now.

Alongside Tribal leaders and landowners, we have successfully stopped the construction of the Keystone XL for over a decade. Now, in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, the corporation TC Energy wants to rush construction of this massive tar sands oil pipeline in rural northern Montana this week. 

Tell Montana Governor Steve Bullock: Stop Keystone XL for all of our safety.

Tar sands oil is some of the dirtiest on the planet. It isn’t just sinister to push construction of a massive tar sands pipeline in the middle of a crisis like this — it also puts vulnerable workers, Indigenous and rural communities at serious risk of spreading COVID-19 at exactly the time the world can least afford it. 

TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) is disregarding public health and safety and moving hundreds of workers to rural and Tribal communities along the path of its proposed Keystone XL pipeline, endangering their well-being along with that of local community residents. These communities are unequipped to handle the public health threat of a COVID-19 outbreak, in addition to the increased crime and sexual violence – especially targeting Indigenous women – arising from pipeline worker “man camps.”

TC Energy isn’t expecting us to put up a fight. If enough of us raise our voices to call on Governor Bullock to protect Montana communities, he’ll be able to lead where the Trump administration hasn’t and show that allowing construction like this to continue is dangerous for everyone’s health. Despite the governor’s “stay at home” order, TC Energy is set to begin construction in Montana this week, so the outcry has to happen now.

Tell Gov. Bullock: Stop Keystone XL to protect the safety of workers and rural and Indigenous communities.

With determination — and deep gratitude,

Michael Brune
Executive Director
Sierra Club

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