Keystone developer reapplies for SD permit

The company building the controversial Keystone XL pipeline is asking South Dakota to reissue its expired certification to run the pipeline through the state.

TransCanada Corp. had originally obtained a permit in June 2010, but missed the deadline to begin building it within four years. Construction on the pipeline has not started because President Obama has yet to grant a federal permit for the project.

In a Monday filing, TransCanada said it has so far complied with all of the conditions of the 2010 permit from South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission.

“In addition, TransCanada’s submittal demonstrates that most of the factual findings the commission relied upon in approving the project in 2010 are unchanged and that any changes that have occurred since then are either positive or neutral to the commission’s concerns,” the company said in a statement.

“In short, Keystone XL was great news for South Dakotans four years ago,” it said. “It is even better news today.”

TransCanada has predicted that the recertification process from South Dakota would be a procedural filing and not require an in-depth process from the state. But it could open a door for environmentalists to try to object to the permit.

Keystone is planned to run from Alberta, Canada’s oil sands to the United States Gulf Coast. 

Only the final segment, from Albert to Kansas, remains to be built. It would run 314 miles in South Dakota.