Keystone XL Pipeline “environmentally sound”
Posted Mar 1, 2013 1:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The US State Department has released a draft environmental impact assessment of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, suggesting that blocking it would not have a significant impact on either the future development of Canada’s oil sands or US oil consumption.
It found the pipeline would not have a major impact on Alberta’s oilsands development; a finding that may make it easier for the White House to approve the controversial project.
The analysis will help inform the decision President Barack Obama is expected to make by mid-summer on whether to grant a permit to build the line that will link Alberta and Texas.
There will be almost two months of public comment between now and then.
Yesterday, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said the Canadian government was hopeful the US would do the “right thing” and approve the pipeline.
He told reporters that giving the project the green light was in the best interest of folks south of the line and failing to approve it would cost Canada jobs and revenue.
