A federal judge has ordered a full environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline route, a decision that will likely slow construction efforts and serve as a blow to the Trump administration.
U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris ordered the State Department on Wednesday to conduct an environmental review of a revised route for the Keystone XL pipeline, determining the State Department was required to “analyze new information relevant to the environmental impacts of its decision” after granting a permit for the pipeline in 2017.
The ruling by Judge Morris — an Obama appointee to the United States District Court for the District of Montana — was a big win for environmentalists who have waged war in the courtroom.
Owned and operated by TransCanada, the Keystone pipeline system already stretches across the midwestern U.S. Keystone XL is a proposed crude oil pipeline that would begin in Steele City, Nebraska and reach all the way into Alberta, Canada.
Former President Barack Obama rejected the project in 2015, arguing it would increase emissions and not add much to the economy.
However, President Donald Trump, someone who campaigned heavily on the issue, immediately green-lighted the proposal upon entering office. An official with the State Department signed a so-called presidential permit that allowed the pipeline to move forward.
Undeterred, a litany of environmental groups initiated a lawsuit against Keystone in March 2017, arguing the Republican president’s decision was unlawful.
Judge Morris’ ruling was “a rejection of the Trump administration’s attempt to flout the law and force Keystone XL on the American people,” stated Jackie Prange, an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, a major environmental organization.
Prange’s group is joined by the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth and others in their judicial fight.
Nevertheless, TransCanada hopes to begin construction in the second quarter of 2019.
Read more at Daily Caller
Another liberal activists judge appointed by OBAMA the FINK that needs to be removed from the bench never ever trust a judge appointed by a liberal democrat and Americas WORST PRESIDENT EVER
I didn’t know the pipeline goes through Montana so what is he doing even hearing and ruling on this?
We may elect a Presdident every four years but our daily lives are controled by a bunch of liberal activists leftists judges ruling in favor of the Eco-Nazis/Watermelons
Well thank goodness for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion .
Things are looking up , the injunction to remove the slum tent hamlet is being enforced finally .
All those USA funded protesters visas are expiring and the snow is going to fly .
Time to move back into Moms garage or get further brainwashed at Simon Fraser Uni
home of alt left loons .
I still want to see it snow a lot this winter so those anti pipeline wackos will see that their worshiping a false god the God of Eco-Wackoism