1. KEYSTONE XL:
Pipeline will have little impact on oil sands development -- State Dept.
The State Department today concluded that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline wouldn't significantly influence the pace of development in Alberta's oil sands, dealing a blow to environmentalists seeking to block the project over concerns related to climate change. State's draft supplemental environmental impact statement released this afternoon does not issue a final verdict on the controversial Alberta-to-Texas pipeline; that will not come until later this spring, following a 45-day comment period.