Keystone XL Pipeline Still Has Fight Behind It

United States/Canada - Although the Keystone XL pipeline legislation was pushed back due to President Obama vetoing it, there still seems to be an effort to push it through.




A new bill proposed by Republican Senator John Hoeven would allow the pipeline to start immediately and  without President Obama's approval, though the passage of the bill itself will require his signature.  The bill is sponsored by 43 Republicans and one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin.  Other Democrats have stated their approval of the pipeline in the past. The Congressional Research Service says Congress has the constitutional right to legislate permits for pipelines such as Keystone XL.

The State Department, which will conduct an environmental impact review before the project is officially given the green light, said authority for the pipeline should be with the administration because of foreign policy, economic, environmental and safety issues.

If this doesn't pass, TransCanada plans to apply for yet another presidential permit but it won't happen until after the election taking place later this year.