State Department to recommend Keystone XL pipeline approval

A depot used to store pipes for Transcanada Corp.'s planned Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen Nov. 14, 2014, in Gascoyne, North Dakota. (Andrew Cullen/Reuters)

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By Matthew Lee and Josh Lederman The Associated Press

March 23, 2017 - 11:01 am

Updated March 23, 2017 - 3:41 pm

WASHINGTON — Senior U.S. officials say the State Department will recommend approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, clearing the way for the White House to formally approve it.

Two officials say Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Shannon will issue the recommendation Friday. A 60-day deadline to complete a Trump administration review is set to expire next Monday.

The pipeline requires a presidential permit. The officials say the White House would announce the permit’s issuance after the State Department recommendation. The officials weren’t authorized to comment publicly ahead of the announcement and requested anonymity.

Shannon is making the recommendation because Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has recused himself from the matter. Tillerson is the former CEO of Exxon Mobil.

The Obama administration had rejected the pipeline.

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