Federal Appeals Court Rejects FERC’s Bid for Expanded Environmental Review of Louisiana Pipeline Network Upgrades

A federal appeals court has dismissed an attempt by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to expand the environmental review for upgrades to a pipeline network that feeds into a liquefied natural gas export terminal in southeastern Louisiana. The decision is a blow for green groups who argued that federal energy regulators should consider the environmental effects of the Evangeline Pass expansion project, which was not directly connected to the LNG terminal, its associated Gator Express pipeline, or the East Lateral XPress and Venice Extension projects. Judge Justin Walker, writing the opinion for the court, stated that each project was “physically and functionally independent” from Evangine Pass.