Pipeline Bill Would Force US Permit For Keystone XL Within 60 Days

Senate Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would expedite the issuance of a permit to TransCanada Corp. for its Keystone XL pipeline.

The 1,700 mile pipeline has been met with some opposition over its initial route through the Sandhills area of Nebraska which overlay water aquifers that provide about 1.5 million people with water. According to a statement released by the group of lawmakers, the route through Nebraska has been redrawn in cooperation with TransCanada.

The State Department, which has jurisdiction over the project because it would cross international borders, has delayed a decision on the project for nearly a year. Republican senators argued that the delay was not only costing the country tens of thousands of jobs, but it was a perfect example of how President Obama has dedicated himself to the 2012 campaign. 

“President Obama has the opportunity to help create 20,000 new jobs now,” Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.). “Incredibly, he’s delayed a decision until after the 2012 election apparently in fear of offending a part of his political base.”

The pipeline would extend from Alberta, Canada to the the Gulf Coast of Texas and would extract nearly 700,000 new barrels a day, a figure Republican senators argue would significantly decrease the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. 

“The Obama administration has failed to produce a persuasive domestic strategy to reduce foreign oil dependence, and now it is failing to grasp the potential of energy security within North America,” Lugar said. 

If passed, the bill would give the State Department 60 days to issue TransCanada a permit to begin work on the Keystone XL pipeline but would exclude work in Nebraska until the state’s environmental regulators and the EPA approve of the newly proposed route.