Cattle buyer Randy Thompson of Nebraska is one of three landowners who challenged the constitutionality of a law governing the siting of the Keystone XL oil pipeline through Nebraska. (Watchdog)
A Nebraska judge ruled Wednesday the state violated its constitution when it allowed the governor to approve a route for the Keystone pipeline.
The Washington Post reported, via Free Republic:
A Nebraska judge ruled Wednesday that the state violated its constitution when it allowed the governor to approve the route of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, a decision that could significantly delay the $5.3 billion project.
District Court judge Stephanie F. Stacy blocked Gov. Dave Heineman (R) and other defendants “from taking any action on the governor’s January 22, 2013 approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline route,” such as allowing land to be acquired by eminent domain for the project.
Stacy concluded that the state legislature’s decision to take the siting power away from its Public Service Commission and give it Heineman violated the state’s constitution.
