A federal judge decided Wednesday to allow environmentalists and activists to move forward on a lawsuit against the Keystone XL Pipeline over objections from President Donald Trump.
Judge Brian Morris, an Obama-era appointee, rejected a request from the president and developers of the $8 billion project to throw out the lawsuit. Trump argued the lawsuit should be tossed out due to jurisdictional concerns.
The Indigenous Environmental Network, North Coast River Alliance, and other activist groups, challenged the permit the president issued earlier this year allowing the pipeline to cross the Canadian border. Trump’s memo was issued using an old environmental assessment.
Opponents of the project celebrated the decision – the lawsuit is one of the key roadblocks still facing the Keystone pipeline. One of the last remaining barriers was removed earlier this month.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission removed an important impediment to the line after it voted 3-2 to approve an expansion of the multi-billion Keystone line, which is slated to shuttle oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
It will pave the way for the transport of up to 830,000 barrels of oil to the Gulf. Nebraska was one of the few states that required an okay from regulators before the project could move forward.
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