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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska lawmakers have introduced two new
bills to regulate oil pipelines, including one that would give Gov.
Dave Heineman authority to decide their routes.
The proposal by state Sen. Chris Langemeier of Schuyler would
let governors certify routes within 30 days of a panel
recommendation to approve or deny a pipeline permit. The panel
would include governor-appointed members from various agencies,
plus one county board member and one resident landowner from each
congressional district. The lieutenant governor would serve as
chairman.
Heineman called lawmakers to Lincoln to enact oil pipeline
regulations amid concerns about the Keystone XL through Nebraska,
but he has not introduced a bill of his own.
Another measure by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery would require a
permit before companies could take land through eminent domain.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A Canadian pipeline developer that wants to
run an oil line through U.S. six states says delaying the project
beyond its expected start date would cost the company $1 million a
day.
Robert Jones is a TransCanada vice president overseeing the
hotly contested Keystone XL pipeline project. Jones says in a
statement given in response to a federal lawsuit that delays would
damage the company’s relationship with shippers and threaten its
ability to recover money.
TransCanada says it’s already spent $1.7 billion on the $7
billion Keystone XL, which would carry crude oil from Alberta to
Texas Gulf Coast refineries.
The State Department has jurisdiction over the pipeline because
it crosses an international border. Officials say they hope to
approve or deny a permit for the project by year’s end.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Opponents of the proposed Keystone XL
pipeline are set to gather in the Capitol to teach residents how to
lobby against the project.
The groups say they will offer citizen training, explain the
process that governs special sessions and go over Nebraska’s legal
power with regard to pipelines. The gathering will take place from
noon to 4 p.m. Friday in the Warner Chamber of the State Capitol.
Lawmakers are meeting in special session this week to enact oil
pipeline legislation amid concerns over the Keystone XL, which
would cross over part of the Ogallala aquifer in Nebraska.
The citizen session was organized by the Nebraska Wildlife
Federation, Bold Nebraska, the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska
Interfaith Power and Light, the Nebraska Sierra Club, Nebraska
Audubon and Nebraskans for Peace.
