LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska environmental officials have released the new proposed corridors for the Keystone XL pipeline that avoid the state’s Sandhills region.
The developer’s preferred route unveiled Thursday would run through Keya Paha, Holt, Antelope, Boone, Nance and Merrick counties before connecting with the route the company had originally proposed. It would still exit the state through Jefferson County.
Pipeline developer TransCanada says its new preferred corridor affects the fewest number of landowners, leaves the smallest environmental footprint, minimizes the risk to workers constructing the pipe, and reduces erosion risk.
Gov. Dave Heineman signed a bill this week that will allow a state review of the Keystone XL pipeline through Nebraska to proceed. The original route would have cut through Nebraska’s environmentally sensitive Sandhills.