State Department: “No Decision Yet” on Keystone XL (Update)

Map by NPR

A map of the existing and proposed Keystone XL pipelines

This is certainly a fast-moving target. The State Department says there’s been “no decision yet” on the Keystone XL pipeline, the Associated Press is reporting. More from AP:

“Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland disputes media reports that the Obama was rejecting the project and says it’s her “understanding” that a decision hadn’t been made. The administration has said it probably won’t meet the Feb. 21 deadline that Congress has set for a final decision on a pipeline permit.

Administration officials say that looming deadline has cut short the time needed to conduct required environmental reviews after the State Department ordered the project developer to find an alternate route that avoids environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska.”

Update: The Associated Press is now reporting that the Obama Administration, not the State Department, will announce the rejection of the pipeline:

“A senior Obama administration official says the White House will reject a Canadian company’s plan to build an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced, says a February deadline set by Congress doesn’t allow for a proper review of the $7 billion project.”

Read more about the pipeline in our explainer: What is the Keystone XL Pipeline?