[Red Badger]

Romney wont have control of the State Department yet on Day One.....

[thackney]

Interestingly, the authority from this approval goes back decades started by an executive order.

I believe another executive order to remove the approval process or force it approved.

[trebb]

Romney wont have control of the State Department yet on Day One.....

You mean like Obama didn't/doesn't have control over the entities he bypassed via executive orders?

[thackney]

http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/permit/

Under Executive Order 11423, as amended, the Secretary of State has the authority to receive applications for and to issue Presidential permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of certain facilities at the borders of the United States with Canada and Mexico. Permits are required for the full range of facilities at the border, including land crossings, bridges, pipelines, tunnels, conveyor belts, and tramways. This authority applies to all new border crossings and to all substantial modifications of existing crossings at the international border.

Executive Order 11423
http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/exec/114274.htm
August 16, 1968