TransCanada said it supports proposed legislation within the State of Nebraska to move the Keystone XL pipeline project forward. If passed, the legislation will ensure a pipeline route will be developed in Nebraska that avoids the Sandhills.

Original plans for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline involved a 2,673 km, 36 inch diameter crude oil pipeline starting from Hardisty, Alberta, and running southeast through Saskatchewan, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.

This would link up with a portion of the Keystone Pipeline that would be built through Kansas to Cushing, Oklahoma. The pipeline would then continue on through Oklahoma to a delivery point near existing terminals in Nederland, Texas, to serve the Port Arthur marketplace.

TransCanada President – Energy and Oil Pipelines Alex Pourbaix said “The positive conversations we have had with Nebraska leaders have resulted in legislation that respects the concerns of Nebraskans and supports the development of the Keystone XL Pipeline. I can confirm the route will be changed and Nebraskans will play an important role in determining the final route.”

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Working together with the State Department, Nebraska’s Department of Environmental Quality will conduct an environmental assessment to define the best location for Keystone XL in Nebraska.

TransCanada said it will co-operate with these agencies and provide them with the information they need to complete a thorough review that addresses concerns regarding the Sandhills region.

It is expected that once the pipeline is operational, Nebraska could see more than $US150 million in property taxes to county and other local governments during the operating life of the pipeline.

Construction of the pipeline in Nebraska would consist of five or six new pump stations and over 443 km of new pipeline. The project is expected to employ over 2,200 construction workers in the state.

TransCanada says that Keystone XL will be safe, built with high-strength steel and with the highest safety standards of any pipeline in North America.

“Twenty-one thousand sensors monitor the length of the pipeline by satellite 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with data refreshed every five seconds. If there is a problem, automatic shut-off valves can be activated in minutes – shutting off the flow of oil,” the company said.