As the bureaucratic permitting process grinds on, the latest environmental impact statement confirms there’s no substantial environmental or safety reason to stop the Keystone XL pipeline.

Environmental impacts can be mitigated, according to the State Department supplemental EIS released on March 1.

“Approval or denial of any one crude oil transport project, including the proposed project, remains unlikely to significantly impact the rate of extraction in the oil sands or the continued demand for heavy crude oil at refineries in the U.S.,” the report says.

TransCanada has agreed to incorporate 57 special conditions developed by Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration into the proposed project and its operations, maintenance and emergencies manual. These measures include reducing spill risk by taking precautions against pipeline corrosion, stress cracking and operator error.