The Keystone XL Pipeline

The Keystone XL Pipeline is a proposed, additional pipeline, intended to carry crude oil from Canada and the Bakken formation region of Montana and North Dakota. The pipeline would start in Hardisty, Alberta in Canada, cross the U.S. Canadian border, and end in Steele City, Nebraska where it would connect with the existing Keystone Pipeline system owned by TransCanada corporation. If completed, the Keystone XL Pipeline would increase the capacity of the existing Keystone Pipeline to 830,000 bpd (barrels per day).

Source:

"Transcanada | Keystone XL Pipeline | About The Project". keystone-xl.com. Retrieved 2015-01-08.

The Keystone XL Pipeline is highly controversial. The factcheck.org website has an article entitled "Pipeline Primer" which examines the issues in detail.

Jul 4, 2021:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/561535-company-behind-keystone-xl-seeks-15b-in-damages-from-us

Jun 9, 2021:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/557645-company-officially-nixes-keystone-xl-pipeline

Jan 20, 2021:

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-alberta-2fbcce48372f5c29c3ae6f6f93907a6d

Jul 6, 2020:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/506112-supreme-court-reinstates-fast-track-pipeline-permitting-except-for

Apr 15, 2020:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/493052-keystone-xl-pipeline-hits-court-setback

Dec 20, 2019:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/475582-federal-judge-rejects-bid-to-kill-keystone-pipeline-lawsuits

Apr 8, 2019:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/437883-trumps-latest-keystone-xl-permit-challenged-in-court

Mar 31, 2019:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/e2-wire/436658-aclu-sues-south-dakota-over-pipeline-protest-legislation

Mar 29, 2019:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/436509-trump-signs-permit-to-jumpstart-delayed-construction-of-keystone-xl

Dec 10, 2018:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/420597-court-blocks-preconstruction-keystone-xl-work

Nov 8, 2018:

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/415862-judge-blocks-keystone-xl-pipeline

Nov 24, 2017:

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/361618-five-things-to-watch-in-the-new-keystone-fight

Nov 20, 2017:

By a vote of 3-2 the Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a route for the Keystone XL pipeline across the state of Nebraska. The approval is for an alternate route, not the original route preferred by TransCanada.

In response to this decision, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer Russ Girling said:

As a result of today's decision, we will conduct a careful review of the Public Service Commission's ruling while assessing how the decision would impact the cost and schedule of the project.

Source:

(November 20, 2017). "TransCanada Evaluating Nebraska PSC Decision On Keystone XL". TransCanada. Retrieved 2017-11-24.

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/361194-keystone-xl-approved-to-run-through-nebraska
https://www.sierraclub.org/michael-brune/2017/11/keystone-xl-tar-sands-nebraska
https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2017/11/sierra-club-response-nebraska-psc-s-conditional-approval-keystone-xl

Nov 13, 2017:

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) announced it will issue a decision regarding construction of the Keystone XL pipeline through the state of Nebraska next Monday, November 20.

Since an enviroinmental permit for the pipeline has already been issued, the PSC's decision will be based only on matters of "public interest" and issues relating to the local economy (not the environment).

Oct 10, 2017:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/court-cant-suspend-keystone-xl-pipeline-decision-trump-administration-says

Jan 24, 2017:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-regarding-construction-keystone-xl-pipeline

Mar 24, 2017:

Jan 6, 2016:

In a federal court in Houston, Texas, TransCanada Corp., the company who owns the Keystone pipeline, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government claiming President Obama's rejection of the pipeline construction is unconstitutional. In the lawsuit, TransCanada does not seek monetary damages, but it wants Obama's rejection invalidated and it wants a ruling that no future president can block construction of the pipeline.

In a separate action, TransCanada said that under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) the pipeline rejection was "arbitrary and unjustified", and it is seeking $15 billion in damages to recover its investment.

Nov 6, 2015:

President Obama announced that based on an extensive seven-year review by the U.S. Department of State, construction of the Keystone XL pipeline would not serve the interests of the United States, and he therefore rejects construction of the pipeline.

In his announcement, Obama talked about some of the reasons for the rejection:

The pipeline would not make a meaningful long-term contribution to our economy [in terms of job creation].

The pipeline would not lower gas prices for American consumers [gas prices have already fallen dramatically over the past two years].

Shipping dirtier crude oil into our country would not increase America’s energy security [the U.S. has increased its energy security by reducing it's dependence of fossil fuels from unstable parts of the world].

Source:

(November 6, 2015). "Statement by the President on the Keystone XL Pipeline". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2015-11-12.

Read a transcript of Obama's announcement here.

Sep 30, 2015:

TransCanada backed out of a lawsuit which was filed against the company by over 100 Nebraska landowners. TransCanada was trying to get access to private landowners land. Instead, TransCanada will apply for a permit for Keystone XL with Nebraska’s Public Service Commission.

Feb 24, 2015:

By way of a Veto Message to the Senate: S. 1, Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act, President Obama vetoed the Senate bill sent to him earlier this month. As of today, it appears that neither the House nor the Senate has enough votes to override the President's veto.

Feb 11, 2015:

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 270-152 in favor of passage of S.1 - Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act. One Republican voted against the bill and 20 Democrats voted in favor of the bill. The bill now goes to President Obama for his review.

Jan 29, 2015:

The U.S. Senate voted 62-36 in favor of passage of S.1 - Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act. All Republicans and nine Democrats voted in favor of the bill. Passage of the bill includes a handful of amendments, some of which are related to the bill and some of which are not. Both the House and the Senate must approve one final version of the bill before it's sent to President Obama for his review.

Jan 9, 2015:

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that Nebraska's existing routing law stands. This means that former Governor Dave Heineman's approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline route stands as well.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 266-153 in favor of passage of H.R.3 - Keystone XL Pipeline Act.

Jan 7, 2015:

This week, the House of Representatives introduced H.R.3 - Keystone XL Pipeline Act".

The Obama Administration made a formal Statement of Administration Policy about H.R.3 - Keystone XL Pipeline Act, stating:

H.R.3 seeks to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether cross-border pipelines serve the national interest by authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline project prior to the completion of the Presidential Permitting process. In doing so, it would cut short consideration of important issues relevant to the national interest. The bill also would authorize the project despite uncertainty due to ongoing litigation in Nebraska.

The Statement of Administration Policy also indicated that President Obama would veto the bill if presented to him.

Source:

(January 7, 2015). "Statement of Administration Policy | H.R.3 - Keystone XL Pipeline Act". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2015-01-07.

Nov 18, 2014:

The U.S. Senate voted 59-41 against passage of S.2280 - A bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, just one vote short of the necessary 60 votes for passage.

Nov 14, 2014

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 252-161 in favor of passage of H.R.5682 - To approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Sep 5, 2014

The Nebraska Supreme Court began hearings on whether the Nebraska governor had the authority to approve the revised Keystone XL pipeline route.

Apr 18, 2014

The U.S. State Department issued a Media Note saying it would give eight U.S. federal agencies more time to "weigh in" on the Keystone XL Pipeline. The eight U.S. federal agencies (per Executive Order 13337" issued April 30, 2004 by President George W. Bush) are:

  • Secretary of Defense
  • Attorney General
  • Secretary of the Interior
  • Secretary of Commerce
  • Secretary of Transportation
  • Secretary of Energy
  • Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

The Media Note also stated:

Agencies need additional time based on the uncertainty created by the on-going litigation in the Nebraska Supreme Court which could ultimately affect the pipeline route in that state.

In addition, during this time we will review and appropriately consider the unprecedented number of new public comments, approximately 2.5 million, received during the public comment period that closed on March 7, 2014.

Source:

(April 18, 2014). "Keystone XL Pipeline Project Review Process: Provision of More Time for Submission of Agency Views". state.gov. Retrieved 2015-01-30.

Feb 26, 2014

A U.S. State Department inspector general’s investigation concluded that the State Department contractor who prepared the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Keystone XL Pipeline did not violate conflict of interest rules, even though he did do work for TransCanada before.

Feb 19, 2014

The District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska ruled that Governor Dave Heineman's January, 2013 decision to approve a revised Keystone XL pipeline route, which bypassed review by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, is unconstitutional and void.

Jan 31, 2014

The U.S. Department of State released a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

In the Executive Summary section of the SEIS (ES.4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT), the following potential impacts were evaluated:

  • Climate change
  • Oil spills and leakage
  • Socioeconomics, including job and revenue benefits, and environmental justice
  • Water resources, including groundwater aquifers and surface waters
  • Wetlands
  • Threatened and endangered species
  • Effects on geology, soils, other biological resources (e.g., vegetation, fish, and wildlife), air quality, noise, land use, recreation, and visual resources
  • Cultural resources,including tribal consultation

Source:

(January, 2014). "Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)". state.gov. Retrieved 2015-01-07.

Jan 22, 2013

Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman approved a revised pipeline route through the state of Nebraska.

May 4, 2012

The U.S. Department of State received an application from TransCanada Corp. with revised pipeline routes through Nebraska.

View more detailed timelines of Keystone XL Pipeline events starting in March, 2008 here and here.

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