Hoeven Statement on Today's Inspector General Report Finding No Conflict of Interest

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement regarding the State Department’s second inspector general (IG) report exonerating Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the consulting firm that completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keystone XL pipeline project.

“Today’s Inspector General report makes clear that the Department of State did not violate its conflict of interest procedures in selecting ERM to conduct its environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline project. The report affirms that the findings of the EIS, specifically its finding of no significant impact on the environment, are sound and impartial.

“With this development, the path should be clear for the State Department to issue an affirmative national interest determination based on the merit and importance of this much-needed energy infrastructure project for the nation.

“After more than five years, and five exhaustive environmental reviews, the Keystone XL pipeline project is perhaps the most thoroughly studied and long-delayed project of its kind in U.S. history. The Keystone XL pipeline will create thousands of jobs, boost revenues to help address our deficit and debt, and move the United States one step closer to North American energy independence. The President should approve the Keystone pipeline without further delay.”

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