I thought David Sherman’s column (on the Keystone XL pipeline) was very interesting. I was wondering about the value of the pipeline since it will be traveling over a large underground aquifer in the west, providing water for four or five farming states.

If there is an oil spill into that aquifer, would we be able to say that the value of the pipeline exceeds the damage done to the aquifer? Is it worth rolling the dice for a quick fix to the economy and lose the bankroll because of an oil spill?

I understand the oil coming from the tar sands in Canada is very acidic, not a good combination of oil and pipeline traveling over the aquifer. This is just a thought, and I wonder how many other people are considering the aquifer besides President Obama.

Milton Martinez

Wyoming Avenue

Buffalo