Keystone contractor’s ties to energy groups draw new scrutiny
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/keystone-contractors-energy-groups-scrutiny-101221.html
A contractor that worked on the State Departments environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline is a member of several energy industry groups that have urged the government to support the project news that is sure to further opponents accusations of bias.
Climate activists have already complained about alleged conflicts of interest by the London-based firm Environmental Resources Management, a company that worked on a State Department draft study concluding that TransCanadas Alberta-to-Texas pipeline would pose little risk to the environment. The departments inspector general is also conducting a probe into possible conflicts of interest in the pipeline review process.
While a previous State Department investigation found no conflicts of interest, the latest information could further roil a debate that has already turned Keystone into a political headache for the Obama administration, a campaign issue for Republicans in 2014 and a source of tension between the U.S. and Canada.
Websites or promotional material of the Western Energy Alliance, the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association all list ERM as a member. In addition, two top ERM staffers are listed on the boards of the Western States Petroleum Association another coalition of energy interests that supports the Keystone pipeline network.