Washington, February 19 (RHC)-- A long-awaited report from the U.S. State Department has dealt a potential major blow to efforts to stop the Keystone XL oil pipeline. An impact assessment says the pipeline’s northern leg would not have a major impact on climate change.

In a speech last year, President Barack Obama said his approval of the project will be contingent upon assuring it "does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution." The proposed pipeline would transport 83,000 barrels of crude every day from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast, which opponents say will have a devastating impact on the planet.

The White House says it has yet to make a decision and will await additional feedback from federal agencies.

In a statement, a coalition of environmental groups said the report should prompt a wave of protests to stop the pipeline, saying: "This is an all-hands-on-deck moment to send the message to President Obama that Keystone XL fails his climate test and he must reject it."