Obama Orders Faster Review for Oil Pipeline Projects

 　　President Barack Obama has ordered steps to speed up the expansion of oil pipeline¹ projects in the United States, including a portion of the planned Keystone pipeline. The president spoke² as he concluded a two-day trip to Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio and Oklahoma - highlighting his energy policies amid national concern about high gasoline prices.

　　For Obama's latest remarks on his so-called "all-of-the-above" energy policy that includes traditional and alternative fuels, the White House chose Cushing, Oklahoma, and a backdrop of huge oil pipes awaiting installation.

　　Cushing is the starting point for the 780-kilometer southern half of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that is to carry oil from tar³ sand fields in western Canada to U.S. refineries⁴ along the Gulf⁵ of Mexico.

　　Obama announced Thursday that the White House has directed federal government agencies to speed up reviews of pipeline projects related to the southern section.

　　"Today, I am directing my administration to cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic⁶ hurdles⁷, and make this project a priority. To go ahead and get it done," he said.

　　The White House order also applies to other pipeline infrastructure⁸ projects across the country. Trans-Canada, the company building the Keystone XL pipeline, intends to complete the Oklahoma to Gulf of Mexico section next year.

　　The pipeline has been caught up in election year politics. Obama ordered that the northern portion be subject to further review amid environmental concerns.

　　Republican presidential contenders say the president is suppressing domestic oil and gas production, and encouraging high gas prices.

　　Former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt⁹ Romney criticized Obama's policies at a recent campaign rally in North Dakota.

　　"He [Obama] instead has tried to slow the growth of oil and gas production in this country, and coal production in this country," said Romney.

　　On Thursday, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, told reporters that Obama's remarks in Oklahoma were driven by election year politics.

　　"The president is down here in Oklahoma, taking credit for a part of the pipeline that is going to go through the normal process. It has already gotten its approvals. And this idea that the president is going to expedite this will have no impact on the construction of this pipeline," Boehner said.

　　In Oklahoma, Obama struck back at critics who say he has not done enough to encourage U.S. oil production.

　　"Anybody who suggests that somehow we are suppressing domestic oil production isn't paying attention. They are not paying attention," said Obama.

　　When he speaks about energy, the president underscores the importance of alternative and clean sources, such as ethanol and wind power, and greater automobile¹⁰ fuel efficiency to reduce America's dependence¹¹ on imported oil.

　　In Oklahoma, he said gasoline prices are determined¹² by a global oil market influenced by events including tensions in the Middle East, including those involving Iran.

　　The president is expected to increase the frequency of such cross-country trips, emphasizing what he says are policies that are effective in helping¹³ the U.S. economy and creating jobs.

1 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

4 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

7 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

10 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

11 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

12 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

13 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。