Nebraska Environmental Report Finds Keystone XL Safe

[Geee]

Investors Business Daily:

Energy: The further review the administration said was needed is done, with a Nebraska environmental agency saying it's safe to build the pipeline that will bring oil, jobs and revenue from our friendly northern neighbor.

After kicking the Canadian oil barrel down the road, the Obama administration may soon be forced to approve the Keystone XL pipeline or come up with another excuse to block it after a report from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality declared it would have "minimal environmental impacts" on the state and its sensitive aquifers.

Friday's report triggered a 30-day deadline for Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, to make a final recommendation to the U.S. government on whether to go forward with the pipeline. Keystone XL will still need final approval from the State Department because its northern portion crosses an international boundary.

The $5.3 billion northern segment will run 850 miles from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Neb., carrying up to 700,000 barrels of crude a day initially and up to 830,000 barrels a day after planned pumping upgrades.

TransCanada, the Canadian company behind the project, has already started construction on the $2.3 billion southern segment, calling it the Gulf Coast Project, which will run from Cushing, Okla., to Nederland, Texas.