U.S. federal judge keeps most Keystone XL pipeline work on hold

A federal judge in Montana has largely kept in place an injunction that blocks an Alberta company from performing preliminary work on the stalled Keystone XL oil pipeline.

U.S. District Judge Brian Morris on Friday denied a request by Calgary-based TransCanada to begin constructing worker camps for the 1,900-kilometre pipeline that would ship crude from Alberta to the Gulf Coast.

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READ MORE: Keystone XL pipeline builder asks U.S. judge to allow some pre-construction work

However, Morris said TransCanada could perform some limited activities outside the pipeline’s right-of-way. Those include the construction and use of pipe storage and container yards.

TransCanada attorneys had argued the injunction issued by Morris in November could cause it to miss the 2019 construction season and further delay the project.

An appeal of November’s ruling is pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

READ MORE: U.S. government appeals ruling that blocked Keystone XL pipeline