"The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday said the collapse in oil prices has cast doubt on the State Department's conclusion that building the Keystone XL oil-sands pipeline would not cause a big boost in greenhouse-gas emissions.

EPA's comments, in a Feb. 2 letter to State made public today, are an important twist in the battle over Keystone, because President Obama has said he will not approve the pipeline if it would "significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution."

The letter arrives as Congress, despite a veto threat, is preparing to send a bill to President Obama's desk next week that mandates federal approval of TransCanada's $8 billion project. The State Department's six-year review of Keystone is ongoing."

Ben Geman reports for the National Journal February 3, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"EPA: Cheap Oil Raises Keystone’s Climate Impact" (Politico) [3]

"EPA Keystone Review Links Oil Sands to Carbon Emission Jump" (Bloomberg) [4]

"The EPA Just Gave President Obama Cover To Reject The Keystone XL Pipeline" (Climate Progress) [5]

"E.P.A. Says Pipeline Could Spur Emissions" (New York Times) [6]

"Oil's Price Plunge Could Raise Keystone Carbon Footprint -EPA" (Reuters) [7]

"EPA: Keystone XL to Emit 1 Billion Extra Tons of GHGs" (Climate Central) [8]