On Wednesday, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman urged President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to withhold a federal permit for a pipeline that would transfer Canadian oil over an aquifer that supplies drinking and irrigation water to parts of several states.

Heineman said that he supports pipeline projects but opposes the proposed TransCanada’s Keystone XL route that would cross the immense Ogallala aquifer.

Within the letter to Obama and Clinton, the Republican governor said he was concerned about the potential threat to the crucial water source for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers.

“This resource is the blood of Nebraska’s agricultural economy,” Heineman said in the letter. “Cash receipts from farm markets furnish over $17 billion to Nebraska’s economy annually. I am concerned that the proposed pipeline will have potentially harmful effects on this valuable natural resource and Nebraska’s economy.”

The pipeline project is configured to carry oil from Canada across Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma on its way to refineries on Texas’ Gulf Coast.

Heineman released the letter in the midst of pipeline protests in Washington, D.C. Actress Daryl Hannah, on Tuesday, a was arrested along with other environmental protesters who ignored orders to move away from the White House.

Environmental groups are concerned that the pipeline could foul underground and surface water supplies, increase air pollution around refineries and harm wildlife. They have criticized what they view as inadequate pipeline safety and emergency spill responses.

Supporters of the pipeline say the environmental concerns are overblown and argue that the pipeline will create jobs and reduce the nation’s dependence on Middle East oil.

Pipeline critics claimed Wednesday’s letter as a victory, however have said the governor still needs to call for a special legislative session or sign an executive order to address the pipeline concerns.
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