Canadian company avoids US review in plan to ship crude oil

Canadian company Enbridge Inc. has found a way to transport more oil from Alberta to the U.S. without first going through a review process similar to the one Keystone XL faces.

The maneuver: switch the crude oil from one pipeline to another before it crosses the border.

{mosads}The State Department, which is currently reviewing the permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, gave the green light to Enbridge on its new plan, Bloomberg News reports.

Environmental groups railed against the State Department for approving the company’s plan, arguing imports from Canada’s oil sands release more carbon during the mining and processing of the fuel than other types of crude oil.

“The State Department has violated the public’s right to transparency and participation in approval of projects that impact the health and safety of our communities, land, water and climate,” added Kate Jacobson, of MN350, a climate group that joined the National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and more in voicing concern over the pipeline. 

“Allowing significantly more tar sand oil to flow before a full environmental impact analysis is complete is unacceptable and irresponsible,” Jacobson added.

Advocates of shipping Canada’s crude oil to the U.S. argue the Keystone XL pipeline and others will help make the U.S. energy independent and secure.