The White House announced on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, that President Obama is likely to veto the proposed measure authorizing construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, the President opposes the bill because it would circumvent the ongoing federal review process for the pipeline project.
The State Department has completed an environmental assessment of the proposal, but is waiting for litigation in the Nebraska Supreme Court to be resolved over whether the pipeline can be routed through that state.
The Keystone Pipeline, if constructed, will stretch nearly 1,700 miles and deliver 830,000 barrels of crude daily from western Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, where it will connect with existing pipelines to deliver the oil to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.
The President has expressed concerns that the pipeline would increase global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the President has expressed doubts as to whether the pipeline would create jobs in the United States, since the pipeline will transport crude oil from the Bakken formation in Canada, and the refined petroleum products from the pipeline will be exported through the Gulf of Mexico. Any jobs created would be short term construction jobs while the pipeline is being built.
For updates, stay tuned to this blog, or contact Toni Ellington at (504) 599-8500.
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