On March 24, after years of delays and an earlier rejection by the Obama administration, the Trump administration approved TransCanada’s application to build the 1,200-mile cross-border Keystone pipeline. While labor is eager to start work on the Keystone XL pipeline following the Trump administration’s permit approval, opponents are promising court battles lasting several years as well as a possible on-the-ground battle, similar to the one that delayed the Dakota Access pipeline.
The decision came in January, after President Trump ordered the State Dept. to review its 2015 rejection of the line. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon Mobil, recused himself from the review and decision.