Corps Of Engineers Approves 1st Leg Of XL Pipeline From Texas To Oklahoma

The Army Corps of Engineers has approved part of the Keystone XL pipeline along the Texas Gulf Coast.

The Corps said in a letter Monday that TransCanada has approval for a 115-mile portion of pipeline near Galveston.

The company still needs approval for two other sections of the 485-mile line designed to transport oil from Cushing, Oklahoma to Texas refineries.

TransCanada is pursuing this portion of the pipeline as it awaits federal approval for Keystone XL, a plan it resubmitted in May.

President Barack Obama denied TransCanada's permit in January to start construction on the 1,700-mile pipeline, citing insufficient time to meet a Congress-mandated deadline.

3/22/2012 Related Story: In Cushing, Obama Says He Wants Fed To Cut Red Tape, Expedite Pipeline