US Republicans Seek Keystone Approval; Foes Vow To Risk Arrest

The State Department concluded that the $5.4 billion, TransCanada Corp pipeline will not unduly worsen climate change. But eight different U.S. federal agencies will have a chance to weigh in on the pipeline over the next three months.

Environmentalist foes of the project have challenged the State Department findings that the pipeline would not spur oil sands development or weigh on global warming.

The next several months should see a publicity blitz from opponents and backers of the pipeline to shape public opinion ahead of any decision, said Tiernan Sittenfeld, the chief lobbyist for the League of Conservation Voters.

"For an issue like climate change that can feel abstract to some people, the Keystone XL pipeline is something tangible," she said.

On Tuesday, the League published a guide to lawmakers' votes on environmental legislation as well as other conservation matters.

Establishment environmental groups will continue to push the Keystone issue in Washington, but other activists will make their arguments on the street, according to Danielle Droitsch of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

"We've been surprised by the number of spontaneous protests that popped up after the State Department report," she said, describing about 280 "vigils" against the pipeline that were organized in recent days.