The State Department is set to approve the Keystone XL pipeline by Monday, Politico reports. The cross-border permit that will allow construction to proceed is set to be signed by Tom Shannon, undersecretary for political affairs, just before the end of the 60-day timeline President Donald Trump called for in January.
This move would reverse President Barack Obama’s 2015 decision to block the pipeline’s construction, which he said would “undercut” the United States' position as a global leader in working against climate change.
The 1,200-mile pipeline — which would deliver crude from western Canada to the Gulf Coast — has been the subject of nearly a decade of controversy and emphatic lobby efforts by both environmentalists and the oil industry. Critics cite the likelihood of environmental damage and higher rates of greenhouse gas emissions. Supporters for the pipeline argue that its construction will create jobs and stimulate the economy.
Rex Tillerson, who currently serves as secretary of state and is also the former Chief Executive of Exxon Mobil, recused himself from the decision-making process.
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