Feds Approve Southern Leg of Keystone Pipeline

Federal officials have approved a permit for the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline that will run from an oil refinery in Cushing, Okla., to the Texas coast, the Associated Press reported.

Friday’s approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers followed a pledge by President Obama earlier this year to approve the southern portion of the Keystone pipeline.

TransCanada, the pipeline’s owner, wants to run it from Alberta’s tar sands region in Canada to refineries on Texas’ Gulf Coast. TransCanada said construction on the 485-mile section would begin in the coming weeks, AP reported.

The Obama administration had earlier rejecting a broader plan for the pipeline’s northern segments. TransCanada needs presidential approval for that because the pipeline crosses U.S.-Canada border.

The shorter portion only required permits from state and federal agencies, AP said.

The issue took on political importance when Republicans earlier this year forced the Obama administration to rule on the broader 1,179-mile Keystone XL pipeline.