Beyond that, allowing this project to proceed would invite the misuse of scarce water resources elsewhere.
A close ally of Ms. Quinn, Senator Thomas K. Duane, suggested that she might wait for the developer to make concessions and then allow the project to proceed.
Shortly after the decision, however, the federal government said it would stop work that occurs on federal land to see whether it should "reconsider any of its previous decisions" to allow the project to proceed.
The Obama administration has halted construction of the 1,170-mile 1,170-milehat occurs on federal land while it reassesses the initial decision by the Army Corpipelinegineers thatlloccurs pronect to proceed.
The state, which joined with property owners in asking the Army Corps to take on the interim project after severe storms battered Fire Island in 1992 and 1993, has not yet formally announced its decision to withhold two permits that would allow that project to proceed.
The E.P.A.'s report is the first step in a long process that will include public input, a peer-reviewed study, a more detailed plan from the company itself and, at some point down the line, an agency decision on whether to allow the project to proceed.
They said the proposed amendment would allow the project to proceed more quickly.
The wildlife regulators asked that new studies be conducted before a permit necessary to allow the project to proceed -- despite the potential for incidental harm to bald and golden eagle species in the area -- is issued.
As debate heats up again over the Keystone XL pipeline, each side will drop cluster bombs of data on why President Obama should or should not allow the project to proceed.
Huizar chairs the City Council's planning committee, which could recommend either that the full council reject the appeal and allow the project to proceed or require A Community of Friends to do more environmental analysis, up to a costly environmental impact report.
Judge Robertson reversed a finding by an Interior Department appeals board that allowed the project to proceed.
