Johanns asks Clinton for additional review of pipeline

The request follows letters Johanns and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) separately sent Clinton recently stating concern that she is poised to approve the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project despite concern that it would spoil a key aquifer in their state.

 “Conducting a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement will increase the transparency of the environmental review process by providing a formal avenue to assess and respond to remaining concerns,” Johanns wrote Monday.



The pipeline project has also been met with opposition from Democrats, including 10 Senate Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who sent a letter to Clinton last week expressing concern over the department’s draft environmental review of the project.



The proposed expansion of the Keystone project would extend an existing pipeline in Kansas to carry crude oil stemming from Alberta oil sands into Montana and through parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.



Defenders of the project — including major labor groups — tout it as a job creator. Other defenders add that it would decrease the need for oil from volatile nations.

 Clinton — speaking earlier this month in San Francisco — echoed that it was better to import oil from Canada than from less friendly nations.