To avert apprehension among the environmentalist on the proposed $7 billion pipeline to carry Canadian oil to Gulf Coast refineries Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Indicates that no decision has been made so far on it.
Clinton wrote her letter Thursday to Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the several senator who criticizing the project on environmental ground.
"We have not made a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, and will not make one until we complete all steps of our review process," Clinton wrote. "The Department has a strong commitment to the environment and ensuring that decisions related to the pipeline are fully informed."
The proposed pipeline would cross Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. TransCanada has also proposed connecting the pipeline to the Bakken oil field in Montana and North Dakota.
The path would cross several rivers and the massive underground Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to about 2 million people in eight states and supports irrigation.
Environmental groups have raised concerns that the pipeline could foul underground and surface water supplies, increase air pollution around refineries and harm wildlife. They also have speculated about what they consider inadequate pipeline safety and emergency spill responses. Several of the groups asked Clinton to recues her from the project review because they thought her Oct. 15 comments suggested she was inclined to approve the pipeline.
Nelson praised Clinton's letter and said he's glad the project won't be approved until after the State Department considers the possible impact on the Ogallala Aquifer and the fragile Sandhills region of Nebraska and South Dakota.
"While it's good to hear that Secretary Clinton does not plan to violate the law, the letter doesn't address the serious environmental concerns that have been raised by people along the pipeline route," said Alex Moore, spokesman for Friends of the Earth. ".
The editing of the current environmental impact statement for the Keystone XL proposal is expected to be completed by the end of 2010, State Department spokeswoman Nicole Thompson said.
But the department hasn't decided whether the next step will be to issue a final environmental report or a supplemental version of the current report.
Clinton wrote her letter Thursday to Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the several senator who criticizing the project on environmental ground.
"We have not made a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, and will not make one until we complete all steps of our review process," Clinton wrote. "The Department has a strong commitment to the environment and ensuring that decisions related to the pipeline are fully informed."
The proposed pipeline would cross Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. TransCanada has also proposed connecting the pipeline to the Bakken oil field in Montana and North Dakota.
The path would cross several rivers and the massive underground Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to about 2 million people in eight states and supports irrigation.
Environmental groups have raised concerns that the pipeline could foul underground and surface water supplies, increase air pollution around refineries and harm wildlife. They also have speculated about what they consider inadequate pipeline safety and emergency spill responses. Several of the groups asked Clinton to recues her from the project review because they thought her Oct. 15 comments suggested she was inclined to approve the pipeline.
Nelson praised Clinton's letter and said he's glad the project won't be approved until after the State Department considers the possible impact on the Ogallala Aquifer and the fragile Sandhills region of Nebraska and South Dakota.
"While it's good to hear that Secretary Clinton does not plan to violate the law, the letter doesn't address the serious environmental concerns that have been raised by people along the pipeline route," said Alex Moore, spokesman for Friends of the Earth. ".
The editing of the current environmental impact statement for the Keystone XL proposal is expected to be completed by the end of 2010, State Department spokeswoman Nicole Thompson said.
But the department hasn't decided whether the next step will be to issue a final environmental report or a supplemental version of the current report.
