Lankford Encourages State Department to Quickly Complete Final Study for Keystone Pipeline

Statement

Representative James Lankford (R-OK) expressed optimism about the favorable final results of the State Department environmental study--released today--for the northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline. The State Department's completed study represents another hurdle surpassed for the long-awaited northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada requested a permit from the Obama Administration almost 2,000 days ago, and the Administration has done everything possible to stall the permitting process.

"It is absurd that this Administration has dragged its feet for more than five years, despite study after study indicating the pipeline will not negatively impact the environment and will provide much-needed jobs in areas ready to work," said Lankford.

"In his State of the Union address, the President articulated his desire to improve and streamline our federal permitting process. The Keystone pipeline's permit has been waiting on his desk for 1,960 days. Now that yet another study has confirmed what American energy job creators have known all along, it's time for this Administration to stop stalling and use his pen to green-light the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Oklahoma has already benefitted from the jobs and economic development from the southern leg of the pipeline that TransCanada recently opened for business. The northern leg of the pipeline connects the plentiful energy resources in Canada to our Gulf Coast and beyond.

"The final huddle for the Keystone pipeline is a State Department study to determine whether or not the pipeline is in our "national interest.' After numerous environmental impact studies, millions of public comments reviewed and considered, and successful consultations with impacted states, the State Department should have no trouble determining that the pipeline is in our national interest. The State Department has already indicated they see no reason not to allow the pipeline to go forward, so now they can finally give it their official stamp of approval," concluded Lankford.

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