Washington, D.C. – Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith today released the following statement after President Obama announced he is rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline.
Chairman Smith: “The president’s decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline is a win for environmental extremists, but a loss for Americans. Years of independent analysis have clearly shown the project would not exacerbate carbon pollution. This administration routinely dismisses sound science in favor of its extreme environmental agenda. In rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, the president said no to 40,000 new energy jobs. Americans are paying attention. This administration would rather pander to its allies than approve a project that creates thousands of jobs and promotes American energy independence.”
The Committee has held hearings to review the extensive science supporting the safety and environmental features of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The project submitted a Presidential Permit six years ago and has undergone extensive review since then.
Despite claims from the president and those who oppose the project, the president’s own State Department has stated that the pipeline would “have a degree of safety over any other typically constructed domestic oil pipeline” and concluded it would have minimal impact to resources along the proposed route. This analysis includes thousands of pages of environmental impact assessment, hundreds of thousands of public comments and extensive public and interagency dialogue.