WASHINGTON — An Environmental Protection Agency review of the Keystone XL pipeline emphasized that the recent drop in global oil prices might mean that construction of the pipeline could spur increased development of the Canadian oil sands — and thus increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
That review might influence President Obama’s long-delayed verdict on the 1,179-mile pipeline, which could bring about 800,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. Mr. Obama has said that an important element of his decision will be whether construction of the pipeline would contribute significantly to climate change.
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While it had long been expected that Mr. Obama would approve the pipeline — an infrastructure project that would bring oil to the United States from Canada, a strong ally — he has recently made criticial comments about the project. Some analysts have speculated that he may wish to deny the project as a way to make a symbolic statement about his broader commitment to climate change issues.
“By focusing on the emissions related to an energy resource that is developed outside of the United States, the E.P.A. is ignoring the fundamental sovereignty of another country and the significant steps that Canada and Alberta have already taken to reduce emissions,” the TransCanada Corporation, the company that wants to build the pipeline, said in a statement. “Respectfully, this goes far beyond the mandate of the E.P.A. and legislators and others would not appreciate other countries interfering in issues of American federal or state sovereignty,” the statement said.
