Law Commons^™

The Great Sioux Nation V. The "Black Snake": Native American Rights And The Keystone Xl Pipeline, Cindy S. Woods

Buffalo Human Rights Law Review

The Keystone XL Pipeline has been shrouded in controversy almost since its conception. As a structure intending to cross the Canadian border into the United States, the Pipeline must receive presidential approval before construction can commence. Since 2008, TransCanada has at- tempted to obtain this approval unsuccessfully. Criticism against the Pipe- line has focused largely on the negative environmental impacts that will likely accompany its construction and utilization, and it is precisely these environmental concerns that have ultimately stymied presidential approval and made international headlines. In November 2015, the U.S. government denied TransCanada's application, effectively killing the Keystone XL pro- …