A Nebraska court blocked construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline through the state, ruling the Nebraska law that approved the route unconstitutional.
Lancaster County District Court Judge Stephanie Stacy ruled the Governor’s move to approve the revised pipeline plan, as a law allowed, was unconstitutional because it “wrested control of oil pipeline decisions from the state regulatory body, the Nebraska Public Service Commission” and was null and void, as reported by the Washington Examiner.
Judge Stacy wrote in the decision:
“[H]aving found LB 1161 [the Nebraska law] to be unconstitutional, governmental actions taken pursuant to that act, no matter how carefully performed, cannot stand.”
The Obama administration is saying that this decision is forcing it “to examine whether the Keystone XL pipeline process might have to be delayed again, according to CBC News.
“A senior official said Friday that numerous lawyers were examining the ruling handed down earlier this week in Nebraska for its possible impact.”
Roberta Jacobson, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs, stated:
“I know that lots of lawyers are looking at what the implications of it may be on our process. Nebraska has its own process that it has to go through. So I don’t have an answer for you as to how this will affect the timing — or whether it will affect the timing a that’s the open question.”
Additionally, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has appealed a district court ruling which could result in an even lengthier delay to the construction of the contentious pipeline.
You can watch a clip below on the Court’s decision:
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