BAUCUS, TESTER CONTINUE FIGHT FOR KEYSTONE JOBS

Senators Urge State Department to Approve Revised Application Quickly

(Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester are urging the State Department to move quickly to approve TransCanada’s revised application for a Presidential Permit to build the Keystone XL Pipeline.  The Senators called on the State Department this week not to delay the pipeline any further by unnecessarily redoing environmental analysis that was already completed nearly a year ago.

“We’re already well past due for getting construction crews on the ground, and we can’t waste any more time redoing bureaucratic studies that were completed a year ago,” Baucus said. 

“If we do it right, building the Montana portion of the Keystone pipeline means more Montana jobs and greater energy security for Montana consumers,” Tester said.  “That’s why the State Department needs to approve the permit so we can build a more responsible energy future that creates jobs now."

TransCanada resubmitted its application in May with a new route through Nebraska. Baucus and Tester are urging the State Department to perform the required Environmental Impact Statement only on the portion of the route that has changed.  They asked the State Department not to unnecessarily delay the project by redoing analysis on the route from Canada through Nebraska that has not changed.

Baucus and Tester’s letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is available HERE.