NEW : Environmentalists and the oil lobby differ on the need for further review of the project . The pipeline has become a political football in a Obama months . Republican accuse the U.S. administration of stalling the project . Top Republicans , including presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney , say the issue shows that Obama 's energy policies are harming economic growth . Federal and state officials say it will take election year to decide on the new permit request .
NEW : Environmentalists and the oil lobby differ on the need for further review of the project . The pipeline has become a political football in a Obama months . Republican accuse the U.S. administration of stalling the project . Federal and state officials say it will take election year to decide on the new permit request .