The Canadian Press reports that, “TransCanada Corp.’s proposed pipeline to carry Canadian oil sands oil to refineries along the Gulf Coast will be delayed further while the U.S. government conducts an additional environmental review. The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday that it is seeking public comment on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline in mid-April and that it expects to make a decision before the end of this year.” The Los Angeles Times specifies, “In an announcement Tuesday, department officials said they would open a new round of public comments on a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, to be released in mid-April, with a decision on whether to grant a permit for the controversial pipeline now expected by the end of the year.”
The Financial Post adds that, “According to the statement from the State Department, the public will have 45 days to comment on the supplemental draft environmental impact statement.”
The Post also notes, “The Keystone XL project has been in limbo since last July, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency raised concerns about greenhouse gas emissions associated with oilsands production and safety contingencies in the event of a spill along the pipeline’s route.” And the Canadian Press highlights, “Opposition to Keystone XL has been fierce, with environmentalists worried a spill could damage key drinking water sources and increase U.S. reliance on ‘dirty’ crude from the oilsands.”
Council of Canadians blogs highlighting the potential impact of the Keystone XL pipeline on the Ogallala aquifer can be read at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?s=keystone+XL.
The Harper government has already approved the Keystone XL pipeline, so the decision now rests with the US State Department.
