To get
@Mechanicos to hush about immigration, all you have to do is ask him where we can find Trump's written plan on export/import of illegals.
The most economical thing to do, assuming the pipeline is definitely going to get built, would be for the gov't to take the land via eminent domain, essentially sell it to Canada (so there's no net cost to the US for eminent domain payout) with a right of way agreement that includes construction and maintenance rights to Canada within the right of way.
However, I can find no justification in that process because the US gov't would be using eminent domain for a non-gov't public use project.
Soooo, TransCanada has to come up with a plan, acquire the land via private sale from current land owners, get their project permitted and pay the normal excise tax per barrel of oil imported. That would be the way WE get the cheapest oil and they make the max profit.