Challenging The State Department’s Refusal To Disclose Tar Sands Communications

Earthjustice represented environmental and ethics groups in a lawsuit that sought and obtained communications between the State Department and industry lobbyists working on behalf of the Keystone XL pipeline and who have close connections to Hilary Clinton and other prominent politicians.

Case Overview

The Keystone XL pipeline is an impending environmental disaster: it would encourage use of some of the dirtiest fossil fuels on earth, incentivize the rampant destruction of Alberta’s boreal forests, and pose risks all along the pipeline’s multi-thousand mile route. The Keystone XL pipeline has become one of the most controversial environmental issues of our time.

As TransCanada Pipelines pushed for the approval of the Keystone XL project, the State Department refused to disclose communications between the agency and a number of lobbyists with close connections to Hilary Clinton and President Obama.

Earthjustice represented ethics and environmental groups in a lawsuit that sought and obtained access to these communications to help determine whether these relationships may unduly influence the decision of whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

Tar sands in Alberta, Canada.
Tar sands in Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dru Oja Jay / Domion)

Case Updates

Concerned members of the public from 350.org and other organizations carry a 200-yard inflatable pipeline around the Capitol Building in 2014, demanding that the President Obama reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.
February 24, 2015 Press Release

President Vetoes Congress's Keystone Pipeline Bill

President Obama rejects Congress’s attempt to approve short-sighted pipeline and circumvent State department review

February 23, 2012 document

Keystone XL Lobbyists FOIA Complaint

Regarding Keystone XL

February 23, 2012 Press Release

State Department Sued for Not Disclosing Keystone XL Pipeline Lobbyists’ Communications

Campaign connections could raise possibility of bias in Keystone XL pipeline review