TransCanada asks U.S. to delay Keystone XL pipeline review
CBC News Posted: Nov 02, 2015 5:34 PM MT Last Updated: Nov 02, 2015 5:59 PM MT
TransCanada Corporation has asked the U.S. State Department to pause its review of the presidential permit application for the Keystone XL pipeline.
The company sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday, saying it believes there is sound precedent for making the request to pause the review.
That adds a new wrinkle to one of the biggest Canada-U.S. political irritants of recent years, involving a proposed pipeline from Alberta to Texas.
TransCanada's letter asks the U.S. government to delay its decision on a border-crossing permit, pending the resolution of a dispute in Nebraska over the route.
If heeded, the request could potentially have two major implications: First, it could spare the company a potential rejection from U.S. President Barack Obama. It could also delay the issue beyond the 2016 U.S. election, making it a campaign issue and placing the file in the hands of a future administration.
The request is a stunning turn of events for the project, which would carry nearly one-quarter of all Canadian oil exports. Until recently, the company and the Conservative government had been pleading for approval.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/transcanada-asks-u-s-to-delay-keystone-xl-pipeline-review-1.3300867
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