Keystone Pipeline Report Shows No Major Hazards

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Members of Oklahoma’s all-Republican congressional delegation are welcoming a federal report that raises no major environmental objections to building the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast – crossing Oklahoma along the way.

The State Department issued the report Friday on the project that would employ about 9,000 workers to build it.

Senator Jim Inhofe called on President Barack Obama to expedite approval of the project, saying it would create thousands of well-paying jobs and help the country become energy-independent.

Representative Frank Lucas says approval of the project would contribute to providing safe and abundant supplies of energy for the U.S.

Some environmental groups say the pipeline would transport polluted tar sands to the Gulf Coast, only to have about half of it exported internationally.