Keystone Pipeline Officially Delayed
Map of the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline/Stephanie d’Otreppe, NPR
The State Department made it official today — the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have brought oil from Canada through the U.S. to refineries on the Gulf Coast, will not be happening anytime soon.
The State Department will look for an alternate path for the pipeline through Nebraska, which had voiced opposition to the proposed route. This means that there will not be a decision until 2012 or 2013, after the election.
From the State Department’s statement today:
“As a result of this process, particularly given the concentration of concerns regarding the environmental sensitivities of the current proposed route through the Sandhills area of Nebraska, the department has determined it needs to undertake an in-depth assessment of potential alternative routes in Nebraska,”
The White House also released a statement:
“Because this permit decision could affect the health and safety of the American people as well as the environment, and because a number of concerns have been raised through a public process, we should take the time to ensure that all questions are properly addressed and all the potential impacts are properly understood. The final decision should be guided by an open, transparent process that is informed by the best available science and the voices of the American people.”
