The US State department hired Cardno Entrix to do the EIA after asking TransCanada for a list of companies to approach. Cardno Entrix has been contracted by TransCanada in the past and lists TransCanada as one of their biggest clients. It is common for the US government to outsource Environmental Impact Assessments due to lack of in department resources. But the fact that it ignored such an obvious financial connection has raised substantial concerns.

The evidence suggests the US government let TransCanada handpick the firm assessing impacts of the proposed Keystone pipeline. Cardno Entrix's prior financial connection with TransCanada may be a motivation behind Cardno Entrix submitting a finding that the Keystone XL pipeline will have ‘little impact’ on the environment.