TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline Could Start Construction In February
TransCanada is looking to move forward with the beginning of the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, regardless of the continuing legal challenges the company is currently facing.
The company asked U.S. District Judge Brian Morris to amend his ruling earlier in November in regards of the current injunction that doesn’t apply to the construction activities. By amending the current injunction TransCanada could start breaking ground as early as February.
If the injunction is not changing the project could be delayed. The project could continue to face another year long seat back that could impact the company revenue by $949 million in earning but also delay the hiring of about 6,000 workers.
TransCanada has been requesting the court in writing to clarify or amend the injunction. A copy of the filling has not been made available by the company.
The 1,200-mile pipeline would carry 830,000 bopd from Alberta’s oil sands to the United States gulf coast refiners. The pipeline project has faced legal holdup and opposition from environmental groups and landowners. No official statement has been made by TransCanada about the construction of the pipeline.
In early November Morris found the 2014 environmental assessment by the Obama administration was inadequate. President Donald Trump use that review March 2017 to allow the project to proceed. The government has to consider oil prices, greenhouse-gas emissions and formulate a new spill-response strategy before allowing the pipeline to move forward, Morris wrote in the ruling.
On Wednesday November 29th, judge Brian Morris made the decision per the Associated Press to continue the preliminary work that will allow the company to proceed to meet with stakeholders and finalize contracts and permits. It will clear the path to begin the breaking ground in February
“We will now resume engaging with all stakeholders as we move forward with some of our pre-construction activities that are required for the prudent, safe, and environmentally sound construction of the project,” wrote Terry Cunha, spokesperson for TransCanada, in an email to Earther. “It is too soon to say what the injunction will mean to the timeline of the Keystone XL pipeline, but we remain confident the project will be built.”
The U.S. State Department has previously said it expects to publish a final supplemental review in December.
To be continued…