XPost: ba.transportation, sbay.politics, oc.general   
   XPost: alt.guns   
   From: msnbchomo@espn.com   
      
   The Obama administration once again has punted on a final   
   decision for the Keystone XL pipeline, announcing ahead of the   
   holiday weekend that it is extending a key review period   
   indefinitely -- a move that could push off a determination until   
   after the midterm elections.   
      
   Republicans, as well as red-state Democrats who want the   
   pipeline approved, slammed the administration for the delay.   
      
   "It's absolutely ridiculous that this well over five year long   
   process is continuing for an undetermined amount of time," Sen.   
   Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.H., said in a statement.   
      
   Republican Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry called the decision   
   "shameful," particularly since it means another spring   
   construction season will come and go without the project.   
      
   The administration had been in the middle of a 90-day review   
   period for federal agencies assessing an environmental study   
   from the State Department.   
      
   But the State Department said Friday it is giving agencies   
   "additional time" to weigh in, in part because of ongoing   
   litigation before the Nebraska Supreme Court which could affect   
   the pipeline's route.   
      
   Further, the department said officials need to go over the   
   "unprecedented number" of new public comments -- roughly 2.5   
   million of them -- received during a separate comment period   
   that ended in early March.   
      
   "The Permit process will conclude once factors that have a   
   significant impact on determining the national interest of the   
   proposed project have been evaluated and appropriately reflected   
   in the decision documents," the department said.   
      
   Keystone supporters in Congress were furious with the decision.   
   Just days earlier, 11 Democratic senators had written to   
   President Obama urging him to make a final decision by the end   
   of May, complaining that the process "has been exhaustive in its   
   time, breadth and scope."   
      
   With the extension, the administration effectively has turned   
   down that request. One of the letter's signatories, Sen. Mary   
   Landrieu, D-La., said the decision amounts to an "indefinite   
   delay" of the project.   
      
   "This decision is irresponsible, unnecessary and unacceptable,"   
   she said. "By making it clear that they will not move the   
   process forward until there is a resolution in a lawsuit in   
   Nebraska, the administration is sending a signal that the small   
   minority who oppose the pipeline can tie up the process in court   
   forever. There are 42,000 jobs, $20 billion in economic activity   
   and North America's energy security at stake."   
      
   A congressional source told Fox News that at this point, the   
   administration is not giving a hard deadline, and the process   
   appears to be open-ended.   
      
   http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/18/obama-administration-   
   extends-review-period-for-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline/   
      
        
      
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