OMAHA- About 75 people spoke against the pipeline during the four-hour hearing, while two spoke in its favor. It was the third and final hearing of the week on whether the proposal complies with the Clean Water Act. The two other hearings drew comments from a total of 112 people, according to the Corps.

Speakers invoked property rights and the potential for economic and environmental losses from spills that would pollute water and land. Several cast their eyes on the accelerating threat of climate change, saying it’s not in the nation’s interest to contribute to increased fossil fuel use. Bold Nebraska, a state group organized in opposition to the pipeline, will submit comments in opposition from 7,000 people, said Mark Hefflinger, a spokesman.

Marty Jorgenson, one of two people to speak in favor of the Keystone XL project, said that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil and that oil will remain necessary as the economy transitions to renewables. Gary Salsman with TC Energy said prior to public comment that studies have shown that the pipeline can be built “safely and responsibly.” Construction will employ more than 10,000 union workers and inject $1.9 billion in wages into the economy, he said, with state and local governments struggling in the face of COVID-19 taking in millions in additional taxes.

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