TransCanada has filed a new application to Washington in hopes of getting the approvals it needs for a massive pipeline project from Canada to Texas.
The southern portion of the route, from Cushing, Okla. to Texas has already been approved, but the route from the Canadian border through Nebraska has faced environmental and political hurdles.
The original proposed route for the $7.6-billion Keystone XL line ran through the environmentally sensitive Sandhills region of Nebraska, but the new route would skirt the area.
"We will consider this new application on its merits," said a release Friday from the U.S. State Department. "Consistent with the Executive Order, this involves consideration of many factors, including energy security, health, environmental, cultural, economic, and foreign policy concerns."
The Calgary-based company hopes to begin construction in early 2013, with the pipeline operational by late 2014 or early 2015.
The current application includes the already reviewed route through Montana and South Dakota, as well as "alternative routing corridors and a preferred corridor" through Nebraska, which avoid the Sandhills, said a statement from TransCanada.
"Once a route is finalized, it will be submitted as part of the Presidential Permit application."
Earlier this year amid mounting environmental protests and opposition from Nebraska's governor, the Obama administration rejected the pipeline proposal and put off approvals until after the 2012 election.
The rejection was ostensibly due to Republican manoeuvering to speed up the process.
Obama later spoke publicly about the importance of pipelines in allowing crude oil to flow from around the U.S. and Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer, issued a statement Friday saying the project will provide a boost to the U.S. economy when it is finally approved.
"The multi-billion dollar Keystone XL pipeline project will reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil and support job growth by putting thousands of Americans to work," Girling, said. "Keystone XL will transport U.S. crude oil from the very large Bakken supply basin in Montana and North Dakota, along with Canadian oil, to U.S. refineries.
Girling's statement went on to say the application for a Presidential Permit builds on more than three years of environmental review and research, which shows the environmental impact of the project is expected to be minimal.
