BUSINESS
11/04/2015 04:59 EST | Updated 11/04/2016 05:12 EDT

Keystone XL Pipeline Review Will Continue, U.S. Says, Rebuffing TransCanada

  • CP
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government says it's rejecting a request by TransCanada Corp. that it pause its review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

The answer comes in a letter to TransCanada two days after the Calgary-based company raised eyebrows with its unexpected request for a delay. 

That request was interpreted by the administration as a political move, aimed at increasing its chance of approval by a possible future Republican administration — something the company denies.

In any case, the request has been mooted. A State Department spokesman says there's no obligation, nor is there a legal basis, for slowing down a permit-review process at the behest of an applicant.

Department spokesman John Kirby says the review is proceeding.

Given the repeated negative comments President Barack Obama has made about the pipeline, he's widely expected to turn down the request.

  • CP
MORE: business business video Keystone Pipeline Keystone XL Keystone XL Pipeline KXL state department keystone transcanada transkeystone pipeline transrequest keystone delay U.S. state department