Department of State officials will recommend an approval for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline as early as Friday,the Associated Press reports.

Such a move would reverse a 2015 decision by former President Barack Obamas administration to block the project from transporting oil from Canadas tar sands region across the Great Plains to Nebraska.

A recommendation to approve the 1,700-mile pipeline will come from Undersecretary of State Tom Shannon the Associated Press reported, adding President Donald Trump would then formally issue his approval.

Environmentalists have argued the project, which is designed to carry 830,000 barrels of crude per day, would contribute to the release of excessive amounts of greenhouse gas. Republican supporters believe it would provide an economic boost with construction jobs and energy independence.

Trumps approval, however, would not be enough for TransCanada, the pipeline builder, to complete the project. The Nebraska Public Service Commission must also sign off on construction in the state and their review is expected to stretch into the fall.

A spokesman for TransCanada was noncommittal when asked by The Huffington Post whether the company expected to be cleared for the next phase of construction.

We do anticipate a decision by the State Department during the 60 days they have been given, Terry Cunha said in an email. At the moment, we continue to work with the Administration on our Presidential Permit application.

The 60-day timeline for review mentioned by Cunha expires on Monday.

President Donald Trump , in one of his earliest executive actions, had breathed new life and a fresh round of debate into the moribund project by inviting TransCanada to resubmit Keystone XL for review.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters Thursday only that the Trump administration would have an update Friday about the project.