The Jefferson County Commissioners have thrown their support behind the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline just days after the U.S. State Department issued its final Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The State Department report determined that there would be no significant impact to the environment from the TransCanada pipeline project. The proposed 1700mi pipeline would bring tar sands crude oil from Canada all the way to Gulf Coast refineries, including those in Port Arthur; it is anticipated that the pipeline will move 700,000 barrels of oil each day. The pipeline is also expected to create thousands of jobs and lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. The issuance of the State Department’s final Environmental Impact Report is just one step in the review process and does not represent a final verdict on the permit application.
