CBJ.ca - The Canadian Business Journal: TransCanada to re-apply for Keystone permit

TransCanada to re-apply for Keystone permit
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CBJ - January 19 - TransCanada Corporation announced that it has received the
U.S. Department of State's decision that the Presidential Permit for Keystone XL
has been denied.
"This outcome is one of the scenarios we anticipated. While we are disappointed,
TransCanada remains fully committed to the construction of Keystone XL. Plans
are already underway on a number of fronts to largely maintain the construction
schedule of the project," said Russ Girling, President and CEO, TransCanada. "We
will re-apply for a Presidential Permit and expect a new application would be
processed in an expedited manner to allow for an in-service date of late 2014."
TransCanada expects that consideration of a renewed application will make use of
the exhaustive record compiled over the past three plus years.
"Until this pipeline is constructed, the U.S. will continue to import millions
of barrels of conflict oil from the Middle East and Venezuela and other foreign
countries who do not share democratic values Canadians and Americans are
privileged to have," added Girling. "Thousands of jobs continue to hang in the
balance if this project does not go forward. This project is too important to
the U.S. economy, the Canadian economy and the national interest of the United
States for it not to proceed."
TransCanada will continue to work collaboratively with Nebraska's Department of
Environmental Quality on determining the safest route for Keystone XL that
avoids the Sandhills. This process is expected to be complete in September or
October of this year.
TransCanada has committed to a project labour agreement with the Laborers
International Union of North America, the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing
and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, the
International Union of Operating Engineers and the Pipeline Contractors
Association.
TransCanada's investment of billions of private dollars would create thousands
more jobs in the U.S. manufacturing sector. The company has contracts with more
than 50 suppliers across the United States. Manufacturing locations for Keystone
XL equipment include: Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, Indiana, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio,
Arkansas, Kansas, California, and Pennsylvania. The benefits these companies and
the people of their states continue to be delayed and the negative impacts will
be felt.