Trans Canada has filed a petition with the Public Utilities Commission to re-certify the proposed route of the Keystone XL pipeline through western South Dakota.

Trans Canada has held a construction permit for the line for four years, but has not started work, so they have to go back to the PUC.

Kristen Edwards, a staff attorney for the PUC, says the recertification process is not as detailed as the original application…

 

Edwards says Trans Canada has to present information on any conditions that have changed since the last time…

 

Edwards says there will not by any public hearings specifically on the re-certification, but there are opportunities for comment on the process…

 

In their application, Trans Canada said that Keystone XL remains in full compliance with the permit issued in June of 2010, and that any changes since then are neutral or positive in nature.

The pipeline would transport Canadian tar sands oil to the US Gulf Coast.