New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has asked Secretary of State John Kerry for a thorough environmental and permitting process before allowing any existing pipelines in the state to transport tar sands oil.
Two conventional crude oil pipelines owned by the Portland Pipe Line Corporation travel through five New Hampshire towns and end in Montreal. Portland Pipeline has considered changing the contents of those pipelines to tar sands oil.
Critics say tar sands oil poses greater environmental and safety risks than conventional crude, but oil industry representatives disagree.
Under federal law, the Secretary of State has the authority to issue permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of pipelines at the borders of the United States with Canada.
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