Trump Administration: Court Can't Suspend Pipeline Decision
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Trump administration says a federal court has no authority to second-guess a presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.
Justice Department attorneys are due in U.S. District Court in Montana on Wednesday to argue for the dismissal of two lawsuits that challenged the March permit for the 1,179-mile pipeline.
Conservation groups and Native American organizations contend an environmental review of the project completed three years ago was inadequate. They’ve asked U.S. District Judge Brian Morris to revoke its permit.
But government attorneys say that the courts can’t interfere because Trump has Constitutional authority over matters of foreign affairs and national security.
The line proposed by TransCanada would transport Canadian crude through Montana and South Dakota to Nebraska. The Obama administration rejected it, but it was revived under Trump.
Related News
From Archive
- Inside Sempra’s 72-mile pipeline with 18 major trenchless crossings
- Trump vetoes bill to finish $1.3 billion Colorado water pipeline
- PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Construction jobs stumble into 2026 after weak year
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility

Comments