WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, TransCanada announced it wants the Obama administration to pause the review of the presidential permit application for the Keystone XL Pipeline.
"TransCanada is trying to manipulate the approval process in their favor," Coleman said.
President Barack Obama was expected to refuse permission to bid the pipeline, delaying its approval at least until after the next presidential election scheduled to take place in November 2016.
Coleman noted the Obama administration has made it clear the approval of the Keystone pipeline will only happen if TransCanada can show their tar sands pipeline will not exacerbate climate change.
"[B]y trying to delay this decision, TransCanada is admitting that they cannot pass that test," explained.
Greenpeace USA Executive Director Annie Leonard told Sputnik on Tuesday that TransCanada’s request to freeze the Keystone application was an example of its desperation after "years of grandstanding and bluffing."
"This is a testament to the power of organizing and direct action against the deep pockets of the fossil fuel industry," Leonard stated. "This is a major moment for the farmers and indigenous communities that live on the pipeline’s route, for families suffering in the shadows of oil refineries, and for communities throughout the world facing extreme weather brought on by climate change."
"We can all breathe a little easier today, knowing that Keystone XL won’t be transporting liquid destruction through our country for a little while longer, but President Obama can make this a permanent victory by rejecting Keystone XL once and for all," Leonard concluded.
Officials in the US state of Nebraska have said they also want to review the Keystone XL project before giving permission for it to pass through the state’s territory.
The move comes after demand for Canada’s shale oil production has slumped and global oil prices remain low.
Oil prices fell once more on Monday to close in New York at $46.29 for a barrel of Nymex crude, according to media reports.
