The Nebraska Supreme Court began hearing the case that will be considered before the Obama Administration will decide whether or not to authorize the controversial pipeline.
Last February we noted that Lancaster County District Court Judge Stephanie Stacy had dealt TransCanada, the builder of the controversial pipeline, a major setback. Jeff Brady, energy correspondent for NPR, brings us up to date after providing a brief background. [Listen here or download here.]
An early route through the environmentally sensitive Sand Hills region [where the Ogallala Aquifer is located] was widely criticized. But after the pipeline company TransCanada changed the route, Republican Governor Dave Heineman [initially an opponent] approved it. An attorney representing three land owners opposed to the pipeline also happens to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator in Nebraska. Dave Domina will take a break from campaigning to argue before the state Supreme Court that the governor did not have the authority to approve the new route.
According to Domina,"(o)nly the Public Service Commission (created more than a century ago to curb the political influence of railroad barons) can handle the administrative process that goes with a specific route and its acceptance or rejection."
However, Senator Jim Smith authored a bill in 2012 that allowed the governor to make the routing decision. "(W)e would not have voted on it had we believed that it was unconstitutional," he states.
"It could take three months or more for the Nebraska Supreme Court to decide this case," writes Brady. "Depending on how justices rule, a final White House decision on the Keystone XL pipeline could be delayed until next year at the earliest," he adds, which will be just fine with President Obama who wants to delay his decision until after the November elections, as we noted last April.
FULL STORY: Nebraska's Supreme Court To Hear Keystone XL Pipeline Case
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
The Paradox of American Housing
How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan
Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.
How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities
Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.
Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing
Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.