Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) on Tuesday approved a route through his state for the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, escalating Republican pressure on the White House to approve the project.
Heineman’s decision leaves the Obama administration as the last barrier in Keystone’s path, a fact that Republicans in both chambers were quick to highlight.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said it’s past time for President Obama to give the project his seal of approval.
“Nebraska’s approval of a new Keystone XL pipeline route means there is no bureaucratic excuse, hurdle, or catch President Obama can use to delay this project any further. He and he alone stands in the way of tens of thousands of new jobs and energy security,” Boehner said in a statement.
Heineman sent a letter to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday informing them of his decision to greenlight the project. He said the state’s regulators have determined the proposed route from developer TransCanada would not endanger the sensitive Sandhills region, which had been a longstanding concern.
The governor also noted the economic benefits of the pipeline, and said TransCanada would be liable for any damages resulting from a spill.
The State Department has yet to decide whether to approve a cross-border permit for the pipeline, which is designed to bring Canadian oil sands to Gulf Coast refineries.
Environmental groups strongly oppose the project and are clamoring for the president to reject it.
“I recognize all the political pressure the president faces, but with our energy security at stake and many jobs in limbo, he should find a way to say yes,” Boehner said.
A State Department spokeswoman said Tuesday that Nebraska’s action would not change State’s timeline for reviewing Keystone. State Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland indicated to reporters that the review would be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2013, at the earliest.
