Explanation of the Keystone XL Pipeline

              There has been a proposal for a a 1,179 mile, 36-inch-diameter crude oil pipeline. As the map below shows it will begin in Hardisty, Alberta, and extend to Steele City Nebraska. The pipeline has been designed to transport 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Gulf Coast and Midwest refineries. The proposal also includes extending the Southern part of the already existing Keystone Pipeline called the Gulf Coast Pipeline Project. There is currently a pipeline, the Keystone Pipeline, that transports crude oil* from Canada to the U.S., but this pipeline would be more direct. The purpose of this pipeline is to reduce dependency for foreign oil, strengthen security for energy and strengthen the American economy.
              TransCanada has been the company facilitating the proposals for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Governor of Nebraska, Dave Heineman approved the Nebraska portion of the pipeline in January 2013. The U.S. Department of State reviewed the plans for the pipeline and in March, 2013 released a Draft Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement, which found that "there would be no significant impacts to most resources along the proposed Project route". In 2012 Obama postponed the approval for the project because he felt there wasn't enough time to review the proposal fully and make an informed decision. Although the Congressional Republicans were pushing for it's quick approval, the Secretary of State recommended the application be denied to evaluate how it would affect the health and safety of the American people and the environment. Obama is not against the idea of the pipeline and is supportive of American energy that creates jobs. The projected, provided it is approved, is expected to be completed in 2015.
              Currently the Keystone XL pipeline has connected pipeline from Oklahoma to Texas and the first barrels of crude oil have already been transported. The Northern part of the Keystone XL Pipeline is still awaiting presidential approval; it is currently being held up by environmental groups and private landowners.

*Crude Oil: a naturally occurring, unrefined petroleum composed of hydrocarbon deposits.

Resources:
http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html
http://keystone-xl.com/about/the-project/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/18/statement-president-keystone-xl-pipeline
http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/12/09/keystone-xl-pipeline-gets-its-first-barrels-of-oil-in-texas/