May 21, 2012
Obama: No to Pipeline - Owen Jensen Reports
Live at 4: Governor Heineman Reacts to Pipeline Proposal Rejection
John Boehner Says Potential Rejection of the Pipeline is "Not Good for Our County"
Reax Pours in to Pipeline Rejection
Smith Statement on Denial of Keystone XL Permit
Statement by the President on the Keystone XL Pipeline
Nebraskans for Jobs and Energy Independence's Reaction to Decision
President Barack Obama says he's denying an application for a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline because a GOP-mandated deadline didn't allow time for a full review.
Click here to read the story from politico.com
Speaker of the House John Boehner says a potential rejection of the Keystone pipeline project is “not good for our country.”
Obama says his decision isn't a judgment on the merits of the proposed $7 billion pipeline. Rather, he's citing the "arbitrary nature" of the Feb. 21 deadline that was set by a GOP-written provision in a recent tax bill that Obama signed.
The president says in a statement that he's disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced the decision. Obama had until late next month to decide whether the pipeline was in the national interest.
Administration officials says the looming deadline cut short the time needed to conduct environmental reviews after the State Department ordered the project developer to find an alternate route to avoid environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska.
The Canadian company seeking to build a Canada-to-Texas pipeline says it will reapply for a permit after President Barack Obama announced he had rejected the current proposal.
TransCanada's CEO and president Russ Girling says Obama's announcement on Wednesday was not entirely surprising. He says the company plans to reapply for a presidential permit for the proposed 1,700-mile Keystone XL pipeline.
Obama says he turned down the proposal because Congress gave him a 60-day deadline that did not allow for a thorough review of the project. He made clear the company was free to reapply for the permit.
TransCanada says it is working with officials in Nebraska to find a route through the state that avoids environmentally sensitive areas.
Pipeline opposer Jane Kleeb said via Twitter Wednesday morning, "If true, the citizens, farmers, ranchers in Nebraska will be having one big party to celebrate protecting our water."
