Final Permit Secured for Gulf Coast Pipeline Project

HOUSTON (AP/Staff) – A Canadian company that wants to build an oil pipeline from Alberta’s tar sands region to Texas refineries now has a final permit for the portion of the effort known as the Gulf Coast Project. TransCanada announced Friday that construction on the 485-mile section of pipeline would begin in the coming weeks. The project, which would run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County, has generated considerable controversy, with many concerned about its potential environmental impact. But in a statement, the company says that “building a safe and reliable pipeline remains TransCanada’s top priority.”

President Barack Obama encouraged the company to pursue the segment that will run from a refinery in Cushing, Okla., to Texas after he rejected the broader plan, saying it needed to be rerouted around Nebraska’s sensitive Sand Hills region. For that project, TransCanada needs presidential approval because it crosses an international border. The shorter portion only requires permits from state and federal agencies. The shorter line will help relieve a bottleneck at the Oklahoma refinery.