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The Announcement
TransCanada Corporation announces a $1.7 billion plan to create 3,000Km pipeline in order to transport sand tar oil from Alberta to Illinois -
NEB
The National Energy Board of Canada approaves the construction of the Canadian portions of the pipeline despite opposition from the Canadian Energy & Paperworkers Union. -
Expansion
TransCanada announces new plans to expand the project, now totaling $5.2 billion -
State Department gives OK
U.S State Department gives OK for the pipeline to cross the Canadian/US border saying: "Canadian oil represents a safe, secure supply for the North American Market,"-- in spite of oppostion from environmental groups and those who would live among the route of the proposed pipeline -
XL
TransCanada annouces new plans to expand its pipeline system (Keystone XL); a $7billion proposal that would link Alberta's oil to refineries in Texas along a 3,200km pipeline -
Application recieved
State Department recieves an application from TransCanada to build the 1,700 mile Keystone, and announces that it will conduct an Environmental Impact Statement -
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Stat Conducted Scoping Meetings
State Department conducts 20 "scoping meetings" to explore the issues that should be addressed in the EIS and consults with federal and state agencies and Indian tribes impacted by the pipeline -
NEB Approves
Canada's National Energy Board approves Keystone XL -
NRDC takes stand
The Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit environmental group based in New York, issues a damning report of the Keystone XL project saying its construction would run against efforts to increase reliance on celan energy sources -
Draft EIS
The State Department issues its draft Environmental Impact Statement, which critics say lacks adequate information on a number of potential issues. The draft report also notes that, in absense of the pipeline, "crude oil would likely be shipped to countries outside of North America, which would require new infrastructure that would result in environmental impacts equivalent or great that Keystone." -
Alliance
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Union of Operation Engineers endorse the pipeline, marking the beginning of a politcal alliance that pits supporters of increased energy production and labor unions against environmental groups -
:"Major environmental risks"
The State Dept. release the final draft of its EIS, which warns that although no "major environmental risks" have been found, the project would negatively affect "certain cultural resources." Protests erupt in Washington calling on the Obama Administration to reject Keystone -
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Poll
The State Department conducts a National Interest Determination-- soliciting public comments and holding meeting in 6 states and Washington D.C -
Re-routing
TransCanada & Nebraska governor, Dave Heineman, agree to re-route the pipeline in order to avoid the Sandhills and the Ogallala aquifer. -
Nebraska approves
Nebraska pledges to approve any construction related to the pipeline; however, the U.S Secretary of State has final say on the pipeline's route -
Payroll tax cuts
Obama signs into law a bill to exten existing payroll tax-cuts. It includes a provision stating that the government must make a decsion on the Keystone project by Feburary 21, 2012 -
Safety Measures
TransCanada aggress to 57 saftety measure relating to the construction operation and design of the pipeline. the measures were a joint creation of the State Department and the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration -
Denied
The State Department denies the construction of Keystone XL in its current form but will allow TransCanada to re-apply once it has devised a new route avoiding sensible ecosystems -
Future
Reports indicate that Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper is looking to sell crude to China in light of Obama's Keystone rejection
