[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 8396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3251]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 7335]


Notice of Availability of Report Commissioned by Department of 
Energy Entitled ``Keystone XL Assessment'' Regarding the Proposed 
TransCanada Keystone XL Project

    Notice is hereby given that the Department of State received on 
January 31, 2011, a report commissioned by the Department of Energy 
entitled ``Keystone XL Assessment.'' The report examines the possible 
effect of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline on U.S. and global oil 
markets. We will consider this report, as well as contributions from 
the public and other interested agencies, in our decision-making 
process on TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, LP's (TransCanada) 
application for a Presidential permit for the Keystone XL Project. We 
will be requesting public comment on this report at an appropriate 
time. The report is available under ``Petroleum Market Impacts of the 
Keystone XL Pipeline Project'' on the ``State Dept. Documents'' page of 
our Web site at http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov.
    On September 19, 2008, TransCanada filed an application for a 
Presidential permit for the construction, operation, and maintenance of 
pipeline facilities at the border of the U.S. and Canada for the 
transport of crude oil across the U.S.-Canada international boundary. 
The Secretary of State is designated and empowered to receive all 
applications for Presidential permits, under Executive Order 13337, as 
amended, for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance, 
at the borders of the United States, of facilities for the exportation 
or importation of petroleum, petroleum products, coal, or other fuels 
to or from a foreign country. TransCanada has requested authorization 
to construct and operate border crossing facilities at the U.S.-
Canadian border in Phillips County, near Morgan, Montana, in connection 
with its proposed international pipeline project (the Keystone XL 
Pipeline Project) that is designed to transport Canadian crude oil 
production from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) to 
destinations in the south central United States, including to an 
existing oil terminal in Cushing, Oklahoma, and to existing delivery 
points in the Port Arthur and East Houston areas of Texas.
    On April 20, 2010, the State Department published a draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provided for public comment on 
that draft EIS until July 2, 2010. The State Department is currently 
reviewing the comments received in response to that notice and will not 
make a decision related to the Keystone XL pipeline until it has 
completed that review. A final decision on whether the Department will 
approve or not approve the Keystone XL pipeline will only be made after 
the Department has completed all of its review processes.

DATES: The Department of State will be requesting public comment on 
this report at an appropriate time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding 
environmental concerns and permitting, contact Alexander Yuan at (202) 
647-4284; or by email at [email protected].

    Dated: February 3, 2011.
Willem H. Brakel,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2011-3251 Filed 2-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P