A coalition of environmental, community and civil society groups asked an appeals court Friday to vacate a FERC decision allowing construction of a gas pipeline in Puerto Rico, charging the agency failed to consider the safety and environmental impacts on nearby communities.
The pipeline was built and is now operational without FERC making a public interest determination, environmental impact analysis or properly notifying the public for comment, according to the groups’ petition to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
FERC’s decision regarding the pipeline drew a strong rebuke from then-Republican Commissioner James Danly last year.
The New Fortress Energy terminal linked to the pipeline has been the subject of litigation because it was built without FERC’s approval. The company argued it did not need FERC’s approval because it contended the link from the terminal to the plant was not a pipeline. But the D.C. Circuit rejected the company’s attempt to overturn the FERC decision that gave the agency jurisdiction.
