A senior Obama administration official says the White House will reject a Canadian company's plan to build an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced, says a February deadline set by Congress doesn't allow for a proper review of the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline project.
The Feb. 21 deadline was set by a GOP-written provision as part of a tax bill that Obama signed into law just before Christmas.
Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns says the President apparently lacks faith in Nebraska to select a route through the state and is turning his head on an opportunity to create thousands of jobs in middle America.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the president is favoring extreme enviromentalism over job creation and an energy partnership with a friendly neighbor.
The 1,700-mile pipeline would carry oil from tar sands in western Canada to refineries in Texas. It would pass through South Dakota and Nebraska.
SEVERAL RESIDENTS SHOWED UP AT THE WOODBURY COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETING TUESDAY TO VOICE CONCERNS REGARDING THE PORT NEAL I-29 INTERCHANGE.
RESIDENTS ARE WORRIED THAT THE BRIDGE WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW INTERCHANGE FARTHER NORTH AS PART OF THE PROPOSED LIBERTY PARK INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
DAN LEE OF SALIX, WHO HAS LED THE OPPOSITION TO THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, ASKED SUPERVISORS TO RESCIND THEIR LETTER TO THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING THE BRIDGE:
SUPERVISOR GEORGE BOYKIN TRIED TO REASSURE THOSE GATHERED THAT NOBODY HAS MADE THEIR MIND UP ON ANYTHING REGARDING THE PROJECT:
OTHERS LIKE PASTOR CRAIG BOCK THINK THE CURRENT INTERCHANGE WILL BE TORN DOWN BECAUSE THE D-O-T HAS GIVEN THE COUNTY SIX MONTHS TO DECIDE WHERE THE ONE INTERCHANGE TO SERVE THAT AREA WILL BE LOCATED:
BUT SUPERVISOR MARK MONSON SAYS NONE OF THE SUPERVISORS WANT THE CURRENT PORT NEAL INTERCHANGE TORN DOWN:
BOARD CHAIRWOMAN JACKIE SMITH HALTED DISCUSSION AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE ON THE MATTER...DEFERRING TO CONTINUE TALKS AT NEXT MONDAY'S PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ISSUE.