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March 4, 2014

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States

The White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Last June, you conditioned approval of the Keystone XL pipeline on a finding that the projectwould be in our nations interest, which wouldbe served only if the project does not

significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. In a long-anticipated report released

January 31, the State Department determined that approval of the pipeline is unlikely to result in

a substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Such a finding should now clear the way for

final endorsement of the pipeline.

We understand that the State Department plans to undertake a 90-day process to gather input

from other federal agencies and departments, and from the public toward a national interest

determination. While this process appears reasonable on its face, we are troubled by commentsfrom senior officials within your Administration. The National Journal, for example, reports

that Assistant Secretary of State Kerri-Ann Jones plans to introduce tangential issues that will

inform the national interest determination, such as the impact of project approval on

international climate policy. We seriously doubt that approval or rejection of the project would

impacteven marginallythe climate policies of China, India, and Russia.

We maintain that approval of the pipeline, a critical energy infrastructure project, is clearly in the

national interest with quantifiable benefits for not only our constituents, but for the entireAmerican people. The State Departments reportconcluded that the pipeline, duringconstruction, would support over 42,000 jobsa substantial, meaningful number to the vast

majority of Americans. We concur with the well-argued points made by many of the nations

major labor unions, including the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO

and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which highlight the job benefits of Keystone

XL.

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Moreover, the pipeline would improve our energy security by diversifying the nations energy

infrastructure, which would help ensure access to reliable and affordable fuels for our cars and

trucks. Although the United States has made impressive progress in displacing foreignpetroleum in recent years, it remains in the national interest to promote, as a percentage of totaloil imports, shipments from our friends and allies, such as Canada. We take note of a recent

Bloomberg poll, which found that 56 percent of respondents view the Keystone XL pipeline asa chance to reduce dependence on oil imports from less reliable trading partners. We agree

with that assessment.

We ask that you set a prudent, rational deadline for a decision on whether the Keystone project is

in the national interestone based on the condition you set in June.

We look forward to working with your Administration to ensure that this pipeline, which will

undoubtedly promote U.S. economic and energy security interests, is built without any further

delay.

Sincerely,

Governor Dave Heineman

Nebraska

Governor Jack Dalrymple

North Dakota

Governor Mary Fallin

Oklahoma

Governor Dennis Daugaard

South Dakota

Governor Rick Perry

Texas