From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speer.The State Department says it's unlikely to propose keystone XL pipeline would have a big impact on the development of Canada's tar sands.NPR's Elizabeth Shogren reportsthat assessment comes in the agency's final and environmental review of the project.keystone XL is controversial,because the oil would carry has significantly larger green house gas footprint than conventional crude.In a new assessment, the State Department says it's about 17 percent higher.Still, assistant secretary of state Kerri-Ann Jones saysthat oil is likely to get market with or without Keystone pipeline."Approve any single project is unlikely to significantly affect the rate of extraction of the oil and the oil sands, or the refining of heavy crude on the US Gulf Coast."Environmentalists and energy analysts saythe document leaves the door open for Secretary of State John Kerry to reject or approve the project.There's no deadline for his decision.Elizabeth Shogren, NPR News, Washington.President Obama met with business leaders at the White House,urging them to do more to hire people who haven't been out of work for a long time.NPR's Scott Horsley reportsit's the latest and serious move by the White House acts on its own when Congress will not.So far the Obama administration has been stymied in its efforts to get Congress to keep sending unemployment check to those who have been out of work 6 months or more.Obama says he will keep pressing lawmakers,calling those checks are economic lifeline.
