In a statement released by the White House, Obama said the " rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline's impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment."

　　"As a result, the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied. And after reviewing the State Department's report, I agree," he said.

　　Obama emphasized that the rejection was "not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline," blaming the "arbitrary nature of a deadline" for preventing the State Department from gathering information necessary to make a decision.

　　"I'm disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my Administration's commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil," he said, vowing to continue to work with the oil and gas industry to increase America's energy security.

　　The 7-billion-U.S.-dollar Keystone XL pipeline, proposed by TransCanada, an energy giant based in Canada, would run 1,700 miles (2,720 km) to connect Canada's oil sands to refineries around Houston and the Gulf of Mexico.

　　Due to intense opposition from environmentalists as well as public officials in the United States, the Obama administration had tried to delay potential approval of the Keystone XL pipeline until 2013.

　　But the Republicans are pressing Obama to accelerate the project, saying the pipeline could significantly reduce U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil while providing thousands of jobs. In December last year, the U.S. congress forced the administration to made a final decision before Feb. 21.