U.S. government attorneys say the Trump administration plans to finish a new environmental review of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada even if a federal appeals court throws out a lawsuit that blocked the project.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new permit for the $8-billion (USD) pipeline last month.
In court filings on Tuesday, government attorneys said it is “undisputed” that Trump’s permit is not subject to two major environmental laws — the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act.
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Nevertheless, the attorneys say the State Department will complete an environmental study ordered by a federal judge in Montana in November.
READ MORE: South Dakota governor, Oglala Sioux in pipeline protest law standoff
The long-delayed line would carry up to 830,000 barrels of crude daily from Canada to Nebraska.
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