The United States (US) State Department said November 10, 2011 it would delay its decision until 2013 on the Keystone XL pipeline. The State Department previously promised a decision by the end of 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency in the US is preparing its environmental effects assessment of the proposed pipeline.
"The mere fact the State Department is slowing down and taking a look at the dirty Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is hugely encouraging. We commend President Obama for listening to the American people and putting the brakes on what would have been a disaster for millions of Americans who want clean air, clean water and good health for their families," said Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club US.
The announcement came after more than 10,000 people converged on the US White House in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline November 6, 2011, and after legislators in Nebraska convened an emergency session November 1, 2011 to pass a law to require re-routing of the pipeline.
State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said a late deal between TransCanada and Nebraska did not change the 2013 deadline. "Nebraska [and] TransCanada are working together, and we're working to support them, but nothing has changed in regard to the timeline we laid out last week."
"We need TransCanada to listen to the American people telling them 'no' to the pipeline and we need Canada to stop pushing dirty tar sands oil on America," said Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, of the Washington-based National Resources Defense Council.
View November 16, 2011 Globe and Mail article
View November 15, 2011 CBC News article
View November 11, 2011 News Advertiser article
Watch November 11, 2011 Democracy Now "Naomi Klein" video
View November 10, 2011 Centre For Biological Diversity press release
View November 10, 2011 Sierra Club US release
View November 4, 2011 Manitoba Wildlands news item
Source:
Globe and Mail, Sierra Club US, CBC
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