Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) today called on President Obama to approve long-delayed plans for the construction of the Keystone Pipeline from Canada to Texas following the release of a key environmental study on Friday.  The study found that the pipeline would not cause any significant environmental impact, leaving the final decision at the desk of Secretary John Kerry and the President.  

“The clear linkage to job creation, the economy, and domestic energy security demonstrates that it is in our national interest to invest in this project and approve construction of the Keystone pipeline,” said Congressman Cuellar.  “This most recent study shows once again that the pipeline will not have any significant environmental impact.  In Texas, we are ready to move forward with construction of a valuable project that would create 42,000 jobs nationwide and add $3.4 billion to the economy, about 0.02 percent of GDP.  There is no excuse to continue delaying – the only losing party will be the American economy.” 

The Keystone XL project proposed by TransCanada, a Canadian company, would build new pipeline to transport Alberta oil sands crude and crude oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska, and from there to Gulf Coast refineries by way of Texas. The proposed pipeline would deliver an estimated 830,000 barrels of oil per day.

Because the pipeline would cross an international border, construction requires a presidential permit and would be subject to applicable state laws and permitting requirements. To issue a presidential permit, the State Department, after consulting with other federal agencies and providing opportunities for public comment, must determine that the project would serve the national interest.

The full text of the State Department Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement may be found here.