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Friday, Sep. 11, 2020

Does the president have the power to start or stop construction of an international oil pipeline?

Jacqueline Agustin, Gigafact
yes

The president, given the role's overall Constitutional authority over foreign affairs, controls development of cross-border energy infrastructure projects by issuing, revoking, revising, suspending and/or transferring "presidential permits." The permits authorize construction and operation of oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines and electrical transmission facilities and are issued through designated executive-branch departments and agencies.

President Donald Trump in March 2019 issued a new permit authorizing construction and operation of the Keystone pipeline between Canada and the U.S., following a series of reviews that began in 2010 during the Obama administration and continued through multiple court challenges. The administration also made some changes governing similar procedures in the future.

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