Sabal Trail Breaking News: Court Denies Request from Pipeline Backers and Federal Agency on Fracked Gas Pipeline
Sabal Trail Pipeline Should be Shut Down
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Late yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a request from pipeline builders and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take another look at the consequences of a case that established downstream greenhouse gas emissions as a crucial component of analyzing the impacts of gas pipelines. The landmark decision from last year forced FERC to consider the future environmental effects of burning gas transported by a pipeline when deciding whether or not to approve construction of the pipeline. Yesterday's ruling means that the Sabal Trail Pipeline should cease operations until a thorough and complete review of its overall impact is completed.
In response, Sierra Club Staff Attorney Elly Benson released the following statement:
"The D.C. Circuit's orders confirm what we already knew: when a fracked gas pipeline has been constructed without its threats being fully considered, the pipeline should not be allowed to continue operating. Sabal Trail has run out of excuses. The court already rejected FERC's failure to consider the greenhouse gas pollution from burning the gas transported by the pipeline. It's time this dirty, unnecessary pipeline is shut down unless and until FERC conducts a comprehensive review of its climate impacts."