US federal judge blocks construction of 1,200 mile oil pipeline project
A federal judge in Montana has blocked construction of the US$10 billion Keystone XL Pipeline to allow more time to study the project's potential environmental impact.
The cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions were not fully studied. Thus, the judge's decision to temporarily block the construction. A more complete review of potential adverse impacts related to climate change, cultural resources and endangered species is required.
The 1,184-mile (1,900-kilometer) pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels of crude a day from Alberta, Canada and Montana to facilities in Nebraska.
The Keystone XL oil pipeline stretches from Hardisty, Alberta, southeast to Steele City, and Nebraska. It is part of the Keystone Pipeline network that transfers crude oil via a 1,184 mile ( 1,900 km) route from Alberta, Canada, east into Manitoba, and then south across the US border to Texas.
