Enzi, Barrasso Back Bill To Push Pipeline Ahead

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso are among 44 senators sponsoring a bill to press ahead with an oil pipeline despite President Barrack Obama's delay of the plan.

The Wyoming Republicans said Tuesday the Keystone XL pipeline is crucial to the U.S. economy.

The 1,700-mile pipeline would carry oil from the tar sands of western Canada to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast, crossing Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma on the way.

Obama blocked the $7 billion pipeline last week, saying officials did not have enough time to review an alternate route that avoided environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska.

Enzi and Barrasso say the pipeline has already been subject to rigorous environmental analysis for more than three years.