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November 8, 2011

State Department Opens “Special Review” of Controversial Keystone XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline 
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The U.S. State Department's inspector general has opened a "special
review" of the department's handling of permitting for the 1,700-mile
Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline, which could delay
the final decision on the line until after the 2012 election. Opponents
of the pipeline have expressed concern that the company the State
Department hired to conduct environmental impact statements on the
pipeline had financial ties to Trans Canada. The inspector general's
announcement came a day after some 10,000 pipeline opponents formed a
ring around the White House to protest the pipeline.



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