§2007 Decision of President

Summary

The President must review all information sent to him about proposed crude oil transportation systems, including environmental studies, comments, reports, and recommendations. He must talk with the Secretaries of Energy, the Interior, and Transportation before deciding which, if any, systems to approve for special treatment like law waivers, faster permit rules, negotiations with Canada, and rules about court review. He can change a plan if he thinks it is needed. He must make his decision within 45 days after receiving recommendations and comments under section 2005(c), but he may delay up to 60 more days if he needs extra time. If he delays, he must quickly tell the House of Representatives and the Senate and explain why. Any approved system must be found to be in the national interest and the decision must be based on specific criteria. Those criteria cover things like environmental effects and risk reduction; amounts and demand for oil in northern and inland States; transportation costs and delivered prices by region; construction schedules and possible delays; financing and cost estimates, including overrun risks; national economic costs and benefits; compliance with section 410 of the Act approved November 16, 1973 (Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act); international relations and needed Canadian approvals; effects on competition; safety and efficiency; risk of delivery interruptions from the west coast; ability and cost to expand capacity; national security; relation to national energy policy; and other factors the President thinks appropriate. The findings must cover the useful life of the system. The President must publish a written statement at the time of his decision that explains these findings, describes any approved routes, gives reasons for approving one plan over others, and publish that notice in the Federal Register.