CNBC host Larry Kudlow this week dismissed a letter from the Interior Department warning about dangers to wildlife if the Keystone XL pipeline was completed, and instead speculated that it would be a good place for animals to "snuggle" for warmth.


In an April 29 letter posted to the Interior Department's website, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance Director Willie Taylor had noted that that the pipeline would have a long-term, negative impact on wildlife

During a "Path to Prosperity" segment on his Monday CNBC show, Kudlow expressed his frustration to Rayola Dougher of the American Petroleum Institute that endangered species could be delaying the pipeline.

"It's unbelievable!" she agreed. "We have been transporting and using Canadian oil sands crude for 40 years now. So, I can't imagine there's any more excuses out there."

"The other thing out there is this Interior Department memo," Kudlow pointed out. "They're worried about glowworms or endangered species or harming wildlife or whatever. I always thought the animals liked to snuggle under the pipeline because it gave them warmth."

"I don't know if they're worried about glowworms now," Dougher replied. "We did find out that animals did like the Alaskan crude oil pipeline quite a bit. So, who knows? It really is one excuse after another."

Watch this video from CNBC's The Kudlow Report, broadcast Aug. 26, 2013.

(h/t: Media Matters)