Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration To Take Another Look At Keystone XL

A Federal judge has sided with environmental, landowners and Tribal plaintiffs in their challenge to the Trump administration’s approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.  Natural Resources Defense Council Attorney Anthony Swift said the judge’s ruling mandates the U.S. State Department return and conduct a more robust supplemental environmental impact statement for the mainline alternative route in Nebraska.

“The judge ruled that the Environmental Impact Statement for Keystone XL was insufficient, that the government approved the project without knowing its route and that it would have to go back and evaluate the new route through Nebraska that Trans Canada had proposed.”

Swift said the onus is on the Trump administration to not only review the Nebraska Keystone XL route but also other possible environmental issues with the overall project.

“I think the Administration would be advised to also evaluate some of the other issues, that weren’t considered in the review of the Keystone XL, including new information about the project’s climate impact.”

Swift doesn’t expect the Trump administration to appeal the federal court decision.  The Natural Resources Defense Council, Bold Alliance and four other environmental groups are all plaintiffs in the case effected by the ruling.

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