1、www.crs.gov | 7-5700 February 6, 2014 The State Department Releases Its Final EIS for the Keystone XL Pipeline. Whats Next? Overview On January 31, 2014, the U.S. Department of State released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keystone XL Pipeline Project. Pursuant to the Nationa
2、l Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the State Department was required to prepare the EIS to assess the potential impacts to the human and natural environment associated with its decision to approve or deny TransCanadas application for a Presidential Permit. The Keystone XL Pipeline Project would tran
3、sport crude oil across the U.S.-Canada border. In accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 13337, the construction, operation, and maintenance of a pipeline that would transport crude oil across the U.S. border requires a Presidential Permit from the State Department. A number of such permits have bee
4、n issued in the past. In accordance with E.O. 13337, a decision to issue a permit is predicated on the departments determination that the proposal would “serve the national interest.” With the issuance of the Final EIS, the State Department said it will now focus on making that determination. The Fi
