Federal regulators give favorable preliminary review of pipeline...
Sep 5 2007 5:02PM
Associated Press
http://www.kxmb.com/News/159289.asp
GRAFTON, N.D. (AP) The U.S. State Department has given a favorable preliminary review of a pipeline that would pump crude oil from Canada through South Dakota and six other states.
The agency's draft environmental impact statement says the construction of TransCanada company's Keystone pipeline is an "environmentally acceptable action." The State Department also says the crude oil pipeline would result in "limited adverse environmental impacts during construction and operation." The buried pipeline would cover 220 miles in ten counties in eastern South Dakota.
Elizabeth Orlando is the State Department's project manager. She says the environmental impact statement took a year to craft, after input from the public and federal and state agencies.
She says meeting to gather public comments on the draft environmental impact statement began yesterday in Missouri.
She says other meetings are planned in states along the proposed route.
The State Department says it will make a final determination on the project in December.
The company says it hopes to begin construction on the project next spring, and have it running in 2009.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-05-07 1653CDT
