NELSON COMMENTS ON STATE DEPARTMENT KEYSTONE PIPELINE DECISION

November 10, 2011 – Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement today, after the U.S. State Department announced that it will undertake an in-depth assessment of alternative routes for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline slated to pass through Nebraska that could conclude in early 2013:
'For more than a year, Nebraskans have voiced concerns about the proposed route of the pipeline. I have been in regular communication with the Department of State urging them to extend the comment period to allow Nebraska state agencies to comment, and to conduct hearings in Nebraska to hear firsthand from Nebraskans. The State department has responded to those concerns,” said Senator Nelson.
“Today’s decision now allows the State of Nebraska another opportunity to exercise its authority and take action on behalf of Nebraskans, rather than waiting until it’s too late,” said Senator Nelson. “The State Department noted today that state laws govern routes of interstate pipelines, but Nebraska currently has no such law or process in place.
“It is my hope that the State of Nebraska will use the State Department’s decision today to protect the interests of Nebraska citizens by exercising its authority to determine the appropriate pipeline route in Nebraska, and that the State Department will support Nebraska’s decision. As I’ve said before, this is a fundamental states’ rights issue.”