House Tries Again To Force Keystone Pipeline Approval
InsideClimate News 2013-04-22
Summary:
By John H. Cushman Jr.
WASHINGTON – A House subcommittee has taken the first step toward legislation that would push through the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, bypassing the State Department and the White House while limiting other regulatory and court reviews.
The subcommittee on energy and power voted 17-9 on Tuesday to approve the Northern Route Approval Act and send it to the full Energy and Commerce Committee. Two Democrats joined 15 Republicans in support of the bill.
The legislation declares that the delivery of oil from Canada's tar sands to refineries in the United States "is in the national interest because of the need to lessen dependence upon insecure foreign sources."
It describes the ongoing Federal regulatory process as "an insurmountable obstacle."
"No Presidential permit shall be required for the pipeline," the bill flatly decrees.