mr. -- well, before i -- ms. kleeb, this committee passed a pipeline safety bill and a request for study was part of that. i voted for it. mr. pourbaix, can you tell -- on behalf of -- you're the representative from trans-canada pipeline. the company builds pipelines, right? >> uh-huh. >> if a pipeline was not built, would oil sands from alberta still come into the united states to be refined? and if so, how would it be transported? >> there is some capacity left on existing pipelines that cross the border. and those pipelines can get probably a few hundred thousand barrels incremental oil into the chicago area. the problem is, is that there are no pipelines that are in place that can take that oil from chicago to where it is needed, which is the gulf coast. >> right. >> yeah. the answer is more pipeline capacity is needed. >> is that the safer mode of transportation as opposed to -- i've heard of rail. >> well, it's interesting right now and a lot of people have mentioned balkan foundation in montana. it's rapidly gro

mr. -- ms. kleeb this committee passed a pipeline safety bill and a request for a study was part of that. i voted for it. mr. pourbaix, on behalf -- you are the representative from transcanada pipeline and the company builds pipelines, right? >> yes. >> if they pipeline was not built, would oilsands from alberto still come into the united states to be refined and if so, how would it be transported? >> there is some capacity left on existing pipelines that cross the border and those pipelines can get probably a few hundred thousand barrels, incremental oil come into the chicago area. the problem is that there are no pipelines that are in place that can take that oil from chicago to where it is needed, which is the gulf coast. so, yeah, the answer is more pipeline capacity is needed. >> is that the saver mode of transportation as opposed to by rail? >> it's interesting right now and a lot of people have mentioned the formation in north dakota and montana, and it is rapidly growing in protection and is a

ms. kleeb, you and your neighbors and been fighting for at the environmental impact. told this whole thing should go for. >> they are definitely a step in the right direction. the only reason we have these bills is because citizens and landowners rakehell for two solid years to make -- raised hell for two solid years. we still do not have a a study on part sand. we would hope represented perry -- we need to make sure it is safe. >> his position was that the original pipeline route was fine. he was for this project. he thinks it is important. jobs, jobs, jobs. this is a lot different from the alaskan pipeline. the alaskan pipeline was taking oil. this is a different kind of a pipeline because it is going to take the dirtiest source of oil available and drive at eight significant increase in carbon pollution. what was your concern about the original route? i guess the original route is not going to happen now. that is not because of transcanada, but because of nebraska? >> it would cut right to the sand hills. we have no oil pipeline that crosses -- that crosses the san

ms. jane kleeb, executive director of bold nebraska. so once again, we welcome all of you.'re going to recognize each one of you for five minutes for your opening statement. on the front, in the middle of the desk is a little light. when it goes red in your five minutes are up. so we will try to get to these opening statements before we have boats on the floor, and i don't know if we will be successful or not, but mr. pourbaix, i will recognize you for five minutes for your opening statement. >> be sure to put your microphone on. >> transcanada is a $50 billion energy infrastructure company with more than 60 years of experience and responsible to feldman and reliable operation that north american energy infrastructure. we employ over 4200 employees with half of those employers in the united states. in addition, we operate the largest gas pipeline system in north america, over 40,000 miles, with the capability transport 20% of the natural gas produced in north america every day. keystone will bring many benefits to the united states but i believe the most important role that