US President Donald Trump has infuriated environmentalists by signing executive orders that support two controversial oil pipelines.
The new Republican president backed the Keystone XL and Dakota Access projects, provided American steel is used.
The Obama administration in late 2015 halted Keystone, which would carry crude from Canada to Texas.
The Army decided last year to explore other routes for the Dakota pipeline amid huge protests by Native Americans.
Signing the Keystone XL pipeline measure, Mr Trump said: “It’s subject to a renegotiation of terms by us.
“And if they like, we’ll see if we can get that pipeline built. Lot of jobs, 28,000 jobs, great construction jobs.”
More than just a pipeline – Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, Washington DC
Over the course of the Obama presidency, the Keystone XL Pipeline became more than just another energy industry construction project. It grew into a high-profile proxy fight between environmentalists and oil-and-gas advocates; liberals and conservatives; pro-regulation activists and small-government true believers.
On the campaign trail Donald Trump often cited the Obama administration’s reluctance to green-light the project as prima facia evidence of the Democratic Party’s anti-business attitudes. Now, with the swipe of a pen, he’s set make it much easier for the project to be completed – assuming the involved company still wants it.
Perhaps of more immediate concern is Mr Trump’s move to fast-track approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which was the focus of vigorous protests from Native American tribes in 2016. Unlike Keystone, that project has not been held in limbo for years.
Mr Trump’s actions do not mean the end of the fight over US pipeline construction, however. Opponents will continue to argue that they jeopardise sensitive environmental areas and violate private property rights. Now, however, instead of appealing to a potentially friendly Democratic administration, they will take the battle to the courts.
Campaigners have argued the project will not create so many jobs and that it will damage the environment.
Signing another order calling for US steel to be used in construction of oil pipelines, Mr Trump added: “If we’re going to build pipelines in the United States, the pipes should be made in the United States.
“From now on we’re going to start making pipelines in the United States… like we used to do in the old days.”
Environmental groups reacted with outrage.
Greenpeace director Annie Leonard said that “instead of pushing bogus claims about the potential of pipelines to create jobs, Trump should focus his efforts on the clean energy sector where America’s future lives”.
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said: “Donald Trump has been in office for four days and he’s already proving to be the dangerous threat to our climate we feared he would be.”
“Simply put, Donald Trump is who we thought he is: a person who will sell off Americans’ property and Tribal rights, clean air, and safe water to corporate polluters.”
President Trump, who took office on Friday, promised during his White House campaign to support Keystone XL and fossil fuels, including the flagging US coal industry.
Protesters in North Dakota led by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe
But during a Tuesday morning meeting with automobile executives at the White House, Mr Trump described himself as an environmentalist.
On Monday, he made similar comments to other business leaders, saying: “I’m a very big person when it comes to the environment. I have received awards on the environment.”
Canada lobbied hard for years for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline under former-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who once said that authorising the new oil sands pipeline was a “complete no-brainer”.
His successor, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also supports the project and has said he intends to work with President Trump to approve the pipeline, proposed by Calgary-based energy infrastructure giant TransCanada.
On Tuesday, Canada’s natural resources minister praised Mr Trump’s step as very positive for Canada.
Keystone XL would carry Canadian oil sands crude 1,179 miles from Alberta to US Gulf coast refineries.
The planned Dakota Access pipeline would run 1,100 miles (1,770km) from North Dakota to Illinois.
Pipeline advocates argue that it is a safer means of transporting oil across the country, compared to road or rail.
A pipeline in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan ruptured last week, pouring more than 50,000 gallons (200,000 litres) on to tribal lands.
Authorities have not yet specified which energy company owns the damaged pipeline.
During his campaign, Mr Trump called upon TransCanada to resubmit their proposal for a construction permit.
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