"Clinton Facing Heat on Oil Sands Pipeline"

"Battle lines have been hardening over the proposed Keystone XL pipeline over the last couple of weeks. The pipeline, which will stretch from Alberta in Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast, would nearly double the United States' capacity to import oil made from Canadian oil sands. Canadian oil sands are a plentiful and secure source of oil, but the extraction process is high in carbon dioxide emissions and takes a toll on pristine Canadian forest ecosystems.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will soon have to decide whether to allow the pipeline construction to proceed next year, and the State Department is -– once again -– studying the potential environmental impact. Environmental groups and a host of government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Department, had judged an earlier evaluation inadequate.

The heat is on Mrs. Clinton as she tries to balance competing demands."

Elisabeth Rosenthal reports for the New York Times November 1, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

"Senators Protest Proposed Pipeline" (Mother Jones)

"Senators Raise Concerns On Oil Sands Pipeline " (Reuters)