Many of the concerns the environmentalist cry about are mute in my book. All they talk about is if there was a leak, the same thing they claimed about the Alaska Oil Pipeline. The pipeline is 100 yards from my house, and I have been comfortable with it for the last 36 years. There have been a few small leaks, and all were contained within the containment systems built into the infrastructure as designed. The only spill that was not contained was when a drunk shot the pipe with a .338 Win Mag. This pipeline has withstood the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America, with no damage to the pipe. I live comfortably with a pipeline everyday. Also the Alaska Pipeline has been bombed two times, with no damage to the pipe. All they did was blow off insulation.
The Keystone Pipeline would provide jobs, in the neighborhood of 20,000 direct workers. Think of the support jobs that are never reported (ie) truck drivers delivering supplies, Local auto and equipment parts stores to support the heavy equipment and vehicles used. Restaurants to feed the workers, clothing stores to cloth the workers, and on and on.
Money going to Canada will find it's way back to the US, since they buy goods from the US. Better going to Canada than the middle east. If we don't buy it they will sell it to China. It's going to be sold.
As mentioned before they have moved the pipeline right of way to avoid the aquifer some people were concerned about. Many of the concerns expressed by so called environmentalist are grabbing at straws and greatly overstressed. Take the Alaska pipeline for instance, all of the concerns and accompanying law suites, that delayed the pipeline for 10 years, have never happened, and are not likely to ever happen.
Last thing, when Congress (both parties) demanded the President quite sitting on it and make a decision, he claimed he had to disapprove it due to not having the time to give it proper review. The permits had been sat on for over two years, with no action. More than sufficient time to make an informed decision. If President Obama really wanted to create jobs this is a project he should have embraced. Instead he bowed to the environmental crowd, who are making big reelection contributions.