Green groups call for more review of pipeline

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Some environmental groups believe the U.S. government must evaluate the impacts of allowing domestic crude on a proposed pipeline designed to carry Canadian crude to refineries along the Gulf Coast. The groups said in a letter to the U.S. State Department that the agency is required to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement for spurs in Montana, North Dakota and Oklahoma to TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

TransCanada spokesman Shawn Howard called the groups' letter "the latest of a series of tactics they are employing to delay the project." State Department spokesman Michael Tran says the agency expects to complete its review of the Keystone XL project by the end of March. He says the agency will determine then if additional environmental review is needed.