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President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper do not see eye to eye on proposed oil pipeline planned to come from Canada, through the United States until it reaches Texas.
Checking Environmental Impact
Obama is being cautious, adhering to promises he made to examine more thoroughly the environmental impact the Keystone XL pipeline would exert. At the moment he is content to leave the project as is until after the upcoming elections in one year.
Pipeline No-Brainer
Prime Minister Harper is not pleased by Obama’s stalling, asserting pressure along with Republican legislators to accelerate what they see as a job-creating project vital to the economy of both countries. Harper called the project a “no-brainer,” suggesting that US politics played a part in the administration’s delay. In November the State Department ordered the re-routing of the pipeline, and forcied the project to be subjected to further environmental review. Environmental groups cheered while Republicans cried over the loss of potential jobs.
“With respect to the politics, look, this is a big project with big consequences,” Obama said in a joint appearance with Harper at the White House. “We’ve seen Democrats and Republicans express concerns about it. And it is my job as president of the United States to make sure that a process is followed that examines all the options.”
From Alberta to Texas
The Keystone XL pipeline will be 1,700 miles long and will carry approximately 700,000 barrels of oil each day. The origin of the oil will be in the tar sands of Alberta, Canada, and will travel all the way to refineries in Texas. The pipeline will pass through the states of Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
In response to a reporter’s question PM Harper said: “You can appreciate that I would not comment on the domestic politics of this issue or any other issue here in the United States.”