The agency's approval would clear a major hurdle for the pipeline, barring legal challenges.

The approval was the last major regulatory hurdle and clears the way for the acquisition to be completed after a 30-day period.

Officials in the Bush administration hoped that the approval of the aid package would clear the way for a wider agreement on the war.

The approval, which had been expected, cleared the way for Governor Cuomo to sign the agreement on Thursday.

The approval, which had been expected, clears the way for more intense contract bargaining with the General Motors Corporation.

An approval would clear the way for service to begin in the spring of 1996.

That approval cleared the final obstacle to a merger creating the nation's largest provider of cable television, long-distance telephone service and high-speed Internet access.

The approval clears the way for the association to sell Nasdaq by September.

The approval by the Transportation Department clears the way for completion of the sale.

The matter was referred to Queen Victoria, whose approval cleared the way for the marriage on December 16, 1839.