A report dismissing complaints about the U.S. State Dept.'s selection of Environmental Resources Management to prepare the final supplemental environmental impact statement for TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL pipeline has spurred calls for a new look at the department's contractor selection process.
The State Dept.'s Office of Inspector General said in a report released on Feb. 26 that the selection of ERM "substantially followed" the department's rules, despite complaints from Keystone XL opponents who said ERM previously had performed work for TransCanada and several other energy companies that would benefit from the pipeline's construction. The OIG also found, however, "that the process for documenting the contractor selection process, including the conflict-of-interest review, can be improved." Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said the OIG report underscores the need for more oversight in contractor selection and management.