Manchin Applauds State Department Study to Move Forward with Keystone XL Pipeline

Statement

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today applauded the State Department's environmental study's final findings on the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Environmental Impact Study (EIS) found no evidence of serious environmental risks posed by constructing the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would help move this country toward energy independence, create hundreds of thousands of jobs and boost economic growth.

"I have been incredibly frustrated for more than five years by the repeated and unnecessary delays in moving forward with the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. I am pleased the State Department has confirmed there is no evidence of any negative environmental impact from building this pipeline. It is plain common sense to buy oil from America's friends and not our enemies, and Canada is one of our closest friends and allies. Let's seize this opportunity, which is estimated to create 20,000 direct jobs during construction and 118,000 indirect and spinoff jobs. The pipeline will also add $20 billion to our recovering economy, so every state will benefit. I encourage the Secretary of State and the President to take the final step necessary to approve the pipeline's construction because there is no doubt that this is in our nation's best interest."

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