Obama’s Keystone Cop-Out - American Jobs & Energy Security Sacrificed on the Altar of Radical Ideals

Arnold Ahlert / Canada Free Press

In a transparent political sop aimed at radical environmentalists and their big-buck donors, the Obama administration announced it is indefinitely extending the review period for the Keystone XL pipeline. The delay, announced in a Good Friday news dump, will likely push the final decision on the project past the November mid-term elections.

Republicans, red-state Democrats and a top labor union official hammered the move.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, characterized the delay as “nothing short of a stunning act of political cowardice.” Rep. Lee Terry (R-NB) contended it was “shameful,” further explaining that another spring construction season will be lost as result. They were joined by Democrats such as Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AK), who contended “there’s no excuse for another delay,” and Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) who was “frankly appalled at the continued foot-dragging by this administration on the Keystone project.”

Terry O’Sullivan, general president of the Laborers International Union of America (LIUNA) was equally appalled, calling the decision “politics at its worst,” further noting that it represents “another low blow to the working men and women of our country for whom the Keystone XL Pipeline is a lifeline to good jobs and energy security.”

The Obama administration was in the midst of a 90-day review period, during which federal agencies were examining an environmental study provided by the State Department when the delay was announced. That would be the latest study. The State Department has been studying the potential impact of the pipeline for the last six years.

Regardless, they contended they were giving those agencies “additional time,” due in part to litigation taking place before before the Nebraska Supreme Court that could determine the final route. In February, Lancaster County District Judge Stephanie Stacy ruled that a 2012 law allowing Gov. Dave Heineman to approve the proposed route through that state was unconstitutional. The Nebraska Supreme Court’s current schedule makes it unlikely the case can be resolved before the election.

O’Sullivan completely rejected that excuse. “The administration is delaying a finding on whether the pipeline is in the national interest based on months-old litigation in Nebraska regarding a state level challenge to a state process—and which has nothing to with the national interest,” he said in a Friday statement.

Another excuse for the delay trotted out by State was the “unprecedented number” of new public comments, totaling nearly 2.5 million received during a separate comment period ending in early March. “The Permit process will conclude once factors that have a significant impact on determining the national interest of the proposed project have been evaluated and appropriately reflected in the decision documents,” the Department said. State has jurisdiction over the issue because the pipeline crosses the U.S.-Canada border.

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