[thackney]

Isn’t that essentially what I said in post #16?

[kabar]

No, you seem to think that the State Department has the final decision just because their name appears at the bottom of the Presidential permit. It is not just a matter of the State Department doing Obama's bidding. It is a matter of the President making the final decision period.

Report to Congress Concerning the Presidential Permit Application of the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline

The Department therefore recommended that the President determine that the permit application for the Keystone XL pipeline filed on September 19, 2008 (including amendments) be denied and that he determine the Keystone XL pipeline, as presented and analyzed at this time, does not serve the national interest. The President concurred with the Department’s recommendation and made that determination on January 18, 2012.

The formal approval lies with the President. He determines the course of action.