RE:Interesting article No Keystone XL pipeline. On Friday, Nebraska’s Supreme Court allowed the pipeline’s construction to proceed. But neighboring South Dakota is starting over in its permitting process. South Dakota approved TransCanada’s TRP, +1.40% application to build the pipeline in 2010, but the construction permit expired in June 2014. The process in South Dakota could be more time-consuming than in Nebraska.
This means that even if Congress votes to construct the Keystone XL pipeline, and miraculously overrides President Obama’s threatened veto, the pipeline may not be initiated in 2015.
That’s bad news for our refineries along the Gulf of Mexico, which could be refining Canada’s heavy crude and blending it with light crude from North Dakota.
Over 40 groups and individuals have filed petitions with South Dakota’s Public Utility Commission to broaden the approval process to matters that were not considered in 2010. Those groups include the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Boettcher Organics and the Sierra Club, as well as a number of independent individuals. The goal of most groups is to stall South Dakota’s approval of Keystone XL.
At a Jan. 6 meeting of the South Dakota Public Utility Commission, regulators allowed the re-approval process to continue. But in a December meeting, the opponents were granted “party status” in the approval process, meaning they can cross-examine witnesses and request documents from TransCanada. Sure enough, on Jan. 6, Dakota Rural Action requested documents from the commission.
The Public Utility Commission is anticipating months of debate. It will hold another five hearings in February, March and April to consider what testimony will be permitted. Evidence will be presented at hearings in early May. Kristen Edwards, staff attorney at the commission, told me: “We’ll consider more meetings as necessary.”https://www.marketwatch.com/story/keystone-xl-and-two-other-things-that-wont-happen-in-2015-2015-01-09?link=sfmw