NEW : Environmentalists and the oil lobby differ on the need for further review of the project . Comment: Republicans accuse the Obama administration of stalling the project . Federal and state officials say it will take months 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 U.S. election year . Republicans accuse the Obama administration of stalling the project . Federal and state officials say it will take months to decide on the new permit request .