U.S. Secretary of State recuses himself from Keystone XL decision.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says he won’t be involved in the decision-making process for the Keystone XL pipeline after a lengthy career in the oil industry that included investments in Alberta’s oilsands.
His department sent a letter Thursday to Greenpeace announcing that he moved last month to recuse himself from any involvement in the Keystone file and had not participated since then.
The file technically belongs to his office — the State Department decides whether to grant permits for pipelines that enter the U.S. from abroad. But the highly political issue has wound up being handled by the White House in two successive administrations.
Tillerson’s announcement came after Greenpeace sent a letter questioning how a former Exxon CEO, who was involved in Alberta oilsands projects, and has been working to sell off his shares in the company, can possibly act as a neutral arbiter.