The Assiniboine and Sioux tribes received a letter from the United States State Department on April 10 alerting them that TransCanada intends to begin preliminary work on the Keystone XL Pipeline in Montana this fall.
According to Reuters, the letter states that the Native American tribes were notified of the work as part of government consultation intended to minimize adverse effects the construction would have on their territory in the state.
“As you may be aware, TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. (Keystone) intends to begin vegetative clearing in preparation for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline (Project) this fall,” the State Department letter said.
The letter also stated that the clearing of vegetation is to make way for pipe yards and construction camps ahead of starting official construction on the project, which the multi-billion dollar Canadian company hopes to begin next year. This 2019 start date raises questions due to the fact that the pipeline’s route through Nebraska is in the midst of a new legal battle.
“The question is will they build a pipeline to nowhere?” said Brian Jorde, a lawyer who represents Nebraska landowners fighting the pipeline. “This is an investment risk analysis TransCanada must perform.”
The Nebraska Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments over the alternative route this fall, around the same time TransCanada intends to begin preliminary work in Montana.
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