Keystone XL Hearing Draws A Crowd In Pierre

By Ben Dunsmoor
Published: September 29, 2011, 9:55 PM

PIERRE, SD - It's a $7 billion project that would cut through western South Dakota.

Transcanada is trying to get a federal permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline that would bring oil from northern Alberta to Gulf Coast refineries. But before the U.S. State Department grants the permit, they are holding public hearings along the proposed route, including in South Dakota.

Transcanada is already pumping oil underneath South Dakota soil from Canada to Texas. Thursday at the Ramkota Hotel in Pierre, dozens of people were piping up to give their opinions on Transcanada's second proposed project, the Keystone XL.

"The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is a 1,700 mile long fuse to the largest carbon bomb in North America," Pat Spears with the International Council on Utility Policy said.

"We feel this will be the safest pipeline in the world and it's needed," Harding County landowner Jim Doolittle said.

More than 400 people, including union workers, landowners and environmentalists, showed up to tell officials with the U.S. State Department where they stand on the project. Supporters say the pipeline will provide much needed jobs and a friendly-source of oil.

"I would rather import heavy-crude from Canada than buy one more barrel of oil from Hugo Chavez," pipeline supporter Larry Mann said.

"Why wouldn't we want to enhance an already good relationship by agreeing to build this pipeline and bringing the tar sand oils to our refineries. Those oils are going to go somewhere; it only makes sense for that place to be the USA," Harding County landowner Scott Besler said.

But opponents point to the existing Keystone pipeline that runs through South Dakota, saying it's already leaked more than a dozen times and they expect the Keystone XL to do the same thing.

"Fourteen leaks on Keystone One in just over a year, a new gas pipeline in Wyoming explodes and you ask, 'Trust me?' I think not," Tripp County landowner John Harter said.

"A rupture in the Keystone XL pipeline could cause a BP oil spill in America's heartland over the source of fresh drinking water for two million people," Mellette County rancher Trista Olsen said.

The pipeline leaking is a major concern of pipeline opponents here in South Dakota and beyond.

In Nebraska, there are worries a leak would poison the Oglalla aquifer, which supplies water to most of the state.

Here is the link to watch this News Report: http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=110929transcanada

Keystone XL Public Hearing -Pierre SD 29SEP11

When I first arrived early at the Ramkota Hotel in Pierre SD for this important public hearing on the Keystone XL Pipeline I will admit, I was extremely intimidated. There was a HUGE line of middle aged men with a just few ladies and younger people sprinkled in all donning bright shirts sharing their approval of the pipelines construction.
I did not recognize a single soul, wondering where all these people came from I took a look through the parking lot and noticed bus after bus lined up, these people where not from the area, not even from the state, they where trucked in.

After waiting inline to register –standing alone, I noticed a couple men walk past with stickers of hope—stickers that said “Oil or Water?” and “Keystone XL” with a circle and slash through it.  I forfeited my place in line to join them in relief of not being alone, and soon many more wonderful beings arrived many of which donning mellow blue shirts stating “No Tar sands Oil”-I was no longer alone, WE where no longer alone!

Upon entering the Hotel doors I had my bag removed and searched, the men who where with me had to take their brief cases back to their cars because “Only ladies purses are aloud to pass.” I approached the speaker registration table in apprehension, wanting to believe that all these blue shirted guardians would make all the points needed so I would not have to speak in front of all these people! But, I decided to register, just incase, after all I could always shrink down in my chair when my name was called.

After hours of testimonials presented I came to the conclusion that many of the people there where vastly misinformed on what exactly the Keystone XL Pipeline was intending to do.  Speaker after Speaker stood up to state that they needed those jobs NOW, and that they needed that CHEAP OIL NOW! Seemingly completely blind sighted to the facts that companies are companies and profits are always on the mind.  I decided I had no choice but to speak my mind.

The following was my speech:
My name is Trista Olsen; I am here today not only as a Mellette county ranch and business owner but as a mother of 3.

I have been sitting here today hearing a lot of assumptions but not many facts, so I would to take the time to present the facts to you today.

Keystone XL will not decrease gas prices, but will actually INCREASE gas prices for Americans –Especially small farming families in the mid-west like mine, by draining Midwestern refineries of cheap Canadian crude into the export-oriented refineries in the Gulf Coast via the Keystone XL pipeline.

TransCanada’s 2008 Permit Application states:

“Existing markets for Canadian heavy crude, principally PADD II [U.S. Midwest], are currently oversupplied, resulting in price discounting for Canadian heavy crude oil. Access to the USGC [U.S. Gulf Coast] via the Keystone XL Pipeline is expected to strengthen Canadian crude oil pricing in [the Midwest] by removing this oversupply. This is expected to increase the price of heavy crude to the equivalent cost of imported crude. The resulting increase in the price of heavy crude is estimated to provide an increase in annual revenue to the Canadian producing industry in 2013 of previous US $2 billion to a US $3.9 billion.”

Independent analysis of these figures found this would increase per gallon prices by 20/cents per gallon in the Midwest. According to another independent analysis of this statement U.S Midwest farmers, who spent $12.4 billion on fuel in 2009 could see expenses rise to $15 billion or higher in 2013 if the pipeline goes through. That would mean that at least $500 million of the added expenses in farm fuel would come direct from the Canadian Market Manipulation.

TransCanada’s job projections are vastly inflated! In 2008, TransCanada’s Presidential Permit application for the Keystone XL to the State Departments indicated

“a PEAK workforce of approximately 3,500 to 4,000 construction personnel”

to build the pipeline for a 3 year construction span. The high job estimates tossing around here today come from a 2001 report COMMISSIONED by TransCanada that estimated 20,000 “PERSON-YEARS” of employment based on a non-public forecast model using undisclosed inputs PROVIDED by TransCanda. According to TransCanda’s OWN data, ONLY 11% of the construction jobs on the Keystone I pipeline in South Dakota were filled by South Dakotans- most of them for temporary, low-paying manual labor.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) BOTH OPPOSE the pipeline, their August 2011 statement:

“We need jobs, but not ones based on increasing our reliance on Tar Sands Oil. There is no shortage of water and sewage pipelines that need to be fixed or replaced, bridges and tunnels that are in need of emergency repair, transportation infrastructure that needs to be renewed and developed. Many jobs could also be created in energy conservation, upgrading the grid, maintaining and expanding public transportation.”

 A rupture in the Keystone Xl pipeline could cause a BP style oil spill in America’s heartland over the Ogallala aquifer, America’s largest fresh water source supplying drinking water to over 2 million People.  The U.S Pipeline Safety Administration has not yet conducted an in depth analysis of the safety of diluted bitumen (raw tar sands) pipelines, despite unique safety concerns posed by it’s more acidic and MORE CORROSIVE properties. TransCanada predicted that the Keystone I pipeline would see one spill in 7years. But IN FACT there has already been over 12 spills in ONE YEAR! The company was then ordered to dig up 10 sections of pipe after government-ordered te3sts indicated that defective steel had been used, but guess what, the KeystoneXL will be constructed using the SAME steel from the same Indian manufacturer, NOT AMERICAN STEEL COMPANIES. Keystone XL will cross through America’s agricultural heartland, the Missouri and Niobrara Rivers, the Ogallala aquifer, sage grouse habitat, walleye fisheries and many more vital, precious areas.

Contrary to popular belief the Keystone XL will NOT LESSEN U.S dependence on foreign oil, but will transport Canadian oil to American refineries for EXPORT to overseas markets according to TransCanada’s OWN presentation to their investors! Gulf Coast refiners plan to refine the cheap Canadian crude supplied by the pipeline into diesel and other products for export to Europe and Latin America. Proceeds from these exports are in fact EARNED TAX-FREE.  Almost All the crude oil refined from the pipeline’s heavy crude oil WILL NEVER REACH U.S DRIVER’S Tanks.

So now I ask you to think about this decision, as I ask:

Why not build their own refinery next to the Tar Sands instead of piping this corrosive, acidic, cancer causing oil all the way across America’s heartland to the gulf of Mexico?

End of my speech.
When I finished I was surprised to hear an uproar of applauses and hoots, but I had only one thing on my mind…get back to my chair and sink down into it so I could tame my now racing heart. On my way back to my chair I was shocked to have people already stopping me to shake my hand and commend me, but after all they where wearing those blue shirts.  After sitting down for a while I still could not tame my heart so I decided to go back to the truck and run my errands and see if getting away from this high energy area would help me to regain control over myself. Walking out I was stopped several times but with the hearing still in session I was able to get out fairly fast.  Upon returning to the hearing, I was even more amazed at the amount of pipeline supporters that stopped me to tell me that they greatly appreciated my speech and that it actually got them thinking and in some cases second guessing their stance on the issue! I was floored, honored and blushing all at once and happy that I faced my fear and stood up to defend what I believe in, for in all honestly I believe I actually made a difference this time!


[ The following is a link to watch the news repost on this event, with a quick clip of my speech included: http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/index.cfm?VideoFile=110929transcanada ]

Just watching this video, got my heart raceing again! Whew!

Mellette County Rangeland vististed by Mitchell Tech students

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Myron Sonne, Agricultural Instructor at Mitchell Technical Institute, department of agricultural technology instructs an “Understanding South Dakota Grasses classes.

He requested the assistance from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), District Conservationist, Leland Schoon to host the class and speak on the area of determining how much grass is present and how long cattle might be able to graze.

“It is always exciting to host colligate students interested in rangeland science;, notes Schoon. “Mellette County has some of the best rangeland in the state, Then to sharpen peoples interest of good rangeland practices is rewarding.”

This year, Schoon asked Dominic Harmon and Trista Olsen at White Thunder Organics to host the location for the tour. White Thunder Organics have implemented a seven pasture rotational grazing system on a traditionally grazed one pasture system.

The students were shown how production and plant vigor have increased due to the improved grazing management and how the calculate carry capacity through clipping vegetation.

The Mitchell Tech Students stopped in White River for lunch before traveling west continuing their tour through privately owned ranches, the cottonwood research Station, Custer State Park and the National Grassland Visitors Center, in Wall.

White Thunder Organics recives grazeing award

WEDNESDAY, October 3rd, 2007

Written by: Lealand Schoon

White Thunder Organics, owned and operated by Dominic Harmon and Trista Olsen of rural northeast, Mellette County, was awarded the Area III, South Dakota Section of Society for Range Management, Excellence in Range Management Award. The Mellette Country Conservation District sponsored their nomination in late Jul, 2007.

Their ranch management strategies, which have enabled them to survive the ongoing drought, while increasing grass production, has been credited to their intensive rotational grazing system. Conservation practices implemented since year 2004 have been drilling an artesian well, which has piped water throughout the ranch, providing water to stock water tanks in nine pasture paddocks.  Twenty-eight acres of a native grass planting was completed with an additional eighty acres planned in the future.

The cropland has been established to productive alfalfa which is rebuilding organic matter and soil quality. Manure is composted within the corrals from the two month time period that their organic beef calves are weaned, prior to being direct marketed off the ranch. Wildlife, pest control and diversified ranch animal enterprises are part of their holistic approach.

However, it is the implementation of excellent grazing management practices, which has allowed them to maintain stocking rates, increase native rangeland production and restore native warm season grasses to what was once bare over utilized areas.

White Thunder Organics will be hosting a tour of their ranch sometime during the 2008 growing season. The white River Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) is proud to be working partners with White Thunder Organics.

A visit to the Bad Nation Indian Colony

SOUTH DAKOTA, FRIDAY, AUG 18, 1939

Last Saturday morning we accepted an invitation extended us by Boss Farmer Lindbloom, and went out to visit the Bad Nation colony, located on Big White river, about 22 miles northeast of Wood. This is a comparatively new project, and is just getting under way this year, although a little work was done on the project last year. It is most ideally located on perhaps 200 acres of nice level river bottom land. A fine set of buildings has been erected for the accommodation of the colony and more are yet to be built.

A fine new school building has been erected there with all modern conveniences. The building is 30x80 feet in size, and in it are also quarters for the superintendent of the school, James D. Wallace and wife, who have just recently moved in. The building is modern in every sense of the word and has electric light, and when fully completed will have running water, as both hot tub and shower baths have been installed. The floors are of hardwood, and it is certainly a modern plant, and the living quarters are equipped with a bottled gas range. There is also a two –car garage; then there are these nice cottages on the location for the accommodation of Indian families. The material is on the ground for the erection of a canning plant, and this building will soon be taking form.

The colony has about 20 acres under cultivation this year with a good part of the garden under irrigation, Water is supplied by a centrifugal pump that throws a six-inch stream from the river at the rate of about 1205 gallons per minute. When we were there Saturday we saw beets, rutabaga, turnips, potatoes, sweet corn, watermelons, cantaloupes, squashes, pumpkins and cucumbers, all looking mighty promising, not withstanding that they had a hard battle with grasshoppers  and beetles – they are going to gather a good crop. Last Saturday they were busy canning beets and drying sweet corn. They dry sweet corn by the old fashioned sun-drying method, but good dried sweet corn does make mighty good eating in the winter time. They are also salting down barrels of cucumber pickles for winter use.

This is one of the newer colonies that are being established all over this country by the Indian department for their charges, and we were much impressed with the ideal location of this colony for future development and beautification.

We could visualize a real show place there within a few years by proper handling, when all the available bottom land in the plot could be put under irrigation and intensive cultivation. With perhaps a fine field of alfalfa to provide feed for the milking cows, with eight or ten acres in orchard, and the balance of the land in garden truck to be harvested and processed right on the ground it would be a source of winter food supply for the red man that would certainly be a boon, and perhaps the red man, under proper tutelage, could yet point the way to his white brother how to build happy homes in this country and let the soil produce all of the luxuries that grace the table of the most opulent citizens.

Mr. Lindbloom has about four such colonies under his supervision, and he informed us that they are making strides and should be a means of making the Indians more self-supporting and self-reliant in the future. We are going to make it a point to watch this development, which has the possibilities of making examples that might well be followed by the white man, not as a colony but through individual effort, with perhaps cooperative processing plants to take care of any surplus production.

 When we purchased the land and moved down to South Dakota in 2004, not one of the building remained standing.  There does remain some foundations scattered around the land. Image is not one that was included in the artice, I took a picture and photoshoped it to what the 1939 photo's looked like to give you an idea of the times. 

Sheep, Sheep and MORE SHEEP!

Dominic and I decided we want to add sheep to our ranch, Dominic and I both have absolutely no experience with sheep of any breed or any kind. Picking the breed of cattle, hogs, and chickens was an easy no brainier for us, picking the breed of bees was a little harder but still do-able, SHEEP on the other hand are causing me to pull out all my wool..er I mean hair.

When we decided we wanted to get into running sheep along with our cattle I was thinking I would have maybe 5 different types of sheep to choose from (Yes, I knew that little about the cute little wooly things.) now I have come to the startling realization that there are more breeds of sheep than breeds of any other livestock species, did you know that there are more than 1,000 distinct different sheep breeds worldwide!

Not only do I have to make myself familiar with the different available breeds that would be suited to grass-finishing on our native prairie with extreme heat in the summer and extreme cold in the winter, but I also have to figure out what one is a true duel purpose animal that will fatten on the grass and still produce a good fur in the spring.

Wool that has been sheered but not processed in any way is called Grease Wool (just learned that yesterday) the breed, color, hair density, hair shape, and oil content all affect the value of the wool, so it’s not as easy as simply saying…I’ll take that meaty little fur-ball!

Here are the breeds I am TRYING to decide between, feel free to comment and give pointers- even if you don’t know anything about sheep…cause in all honesty…neither do we!

 

North Country Cheviot’s:
This is hardy sheep that is said to thrive whether the conditions are adverse or ideal, and are a "hill breed”. Of necessity, hill sheep thrive untended by man, searching for browse on wild unimproved herbage. They usually lamb alone and the newborn lambs are able to survive by their near miraculous ability to get up, nurse and run just minutes after birth. They are intelligent, self-reliant, and resourceful and among the healthiest and most long lived breeds. Truly, they are the product of two hundred years of selection by survival of the fittest! 
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Scottish Blackface’s:

            These sheep are a hardy and have really old origins, showing up  in Monastery records  in the Twelfth Century being utilized for both food and clothing matterial for the monks.

Blackface ewes are excellent mothers and will defend their offspring against any perceived threat. They are good milkers and are able to yield a lamb crop and a wool clip even when on marginal pastures.  Scottish Blackface are excellent on brushy hillsides and can be useful for improving pastures. They are very adept at regaining condition after lambing or a hard winter.  There has never been a case of natural occurring Scrapie in these sheep, scrapie is an invariably fatal disease of sheep that is in South Dakota and a real problem (from what I read) in the US.

Dorper’s:
Lamb grows rapidly and attains a high weaning this is associated with the inherent growth potential of the Dorper lamb and its ability to graze at an early age.Being of African decent the Dorper is hardy and can thrive under range conditions where other breeds can barely exist both hot and cold and the ewe can raise a lamb of reasonable quality under fairly severe conditions. As a strong and non-selective grazer the Dorper can advantageously be incorporated into a well planned range management system.

The Dorper is an easy care breed which requires a minimum of labor. Its skin covering which is a mixture of hair and wool, will drop off if not shorn to keep it tidy. The Dorper has a thick skin which is highly prized and protects the sheep under harsh climatic conditions. The Dorper skin is the most sought after sheepskin in the world and is marketed under the name of Cape Glovers. The skin comprises a high percentage of the income (20%) of the total carcass value.
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Tunis’s:

 Ewes are heavy milkers—heavy enough that some are used in sheep dairies. Twins are more common than not. Tunis also are known for disease resistance and the ability to tolerate both warm and cold climates. The meat from the Tunis sheep is tender and flavorful without having a strong mutton taste. These sheep are a lovley red-brown color and are highly prized by their handlers.

So now you have it.... how do I decide?

I don't know anything about Bees- Except I like them!

When I was young my good friends father had a hive of bees not far from their house, I can remember walking out with him to work the bee’s one day and received my first lesson in bee handling. My friends father worked his bees without the use of any protection or smoke, I was shocked when he opened that hive up and started poking around in the hive all the while teaching me a lesson I never will forget:
“The bee’s will warn you when they get mad, you see they bump themselves against you to warn you before they sting.”  Not long after saying this we noticed the bees started bumping his bare arms. “Now, you just pause and give them time to relax.” A few moments later the bees went a back to business and so did the Beek (a fun term meaning bee keeper). I walked away from that experience in love with bees, lovely little things that they are busying themselves with pollinating all our food for us, providing us with ever so sweet and healthy honey while also wonderful wax! I decided then and there that I wanted to be a bee keeper some day and work the bees just like my friends father.

YEARS later in 2011 my Uncle happened to get a job working for a Bee Supply Manufacture in Minnesota that allowed him to take home all the defected hive pieces. After a while my Uncle had collected enough pieces to piece together 3 whole hives and he sent them on home with me –LUCKY ME!! With the encouragement of my supportive family back home in Minnesota I dove right into bee keeping and purchase 3 swarms of Carniolan bees from an experienced SD bee keeper who had ordered them out of California.

Now is the end of my first year of learning how to tend a hive while learning EVERYTHING as I go. I am walking away with only 5 stings, includeing one on the face, and I am following my dream of working them with no protection and with-out the use of any smoke, SO FAR, but I have yet to collect on the “gold” and sadley will not actually be collecting this year, I have been told its because the first year the bees have to build the wax to put the honey in as there is no pre-made comb, so next year I will harvest sweet rewards!!