E-mails between lobbyists for a firm proposing a Canada-U.S. oil pipeline and the State Department reveal a sometimes-cozy relationship, environmentalists say.
The New York Times reports environmental groups say the e-mails show "complicity" between TransCanada, the pipeline company, and U.S. State Department officials charged with evaluating its environmental impact.
"You see officials who see it as their business not to be an oversight agency but as a facilitator of TransCanada's plans," said Damon Moglen, director of the climate and energy project for Friends of the Earth, whose Freedom of Information Act request resulted in release of the e-mails.
The e-mails reveal a State Department official at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa was invited to Fourth of July parties for TransCanada officials, shared information with the company about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's meetings and cheered TransCanada on, the Times said.