Kerry Says Will Make ‘Appropriate Judgement’ on Keystone

Senator John Kerry said he will make the “appropriate judgement” on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline should he be confirmed as secretary of State.

“There is a statutory process with regards to the review and that is currently ongoing,” Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said today during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “It will not be long before that comes across my desk, and I will make the appropriate judgements about it.”

There are environmental standards that have to be considered, he said responding to a question from Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat. The lawyers at the department are skilled “and we will analyze it,” he said. “I am going to review those standards to ensure they are complete.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Drajem in Washington at mdrajem@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steve Geimann at sgeimann@bloomberg.net