EPA: FERC’s Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment Is Wrong

Climate Nexus, Oct 13th 2016

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) did not properly account for climate change in its environmental impact assessment of a $1.4 billion natural gas pipeline, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In April, FERC found that the 160-mile Leach Xpress pipeline would have a limited impact on the environment, but the EPA argues potential emissions from burning the natural gas transported by the pipeline need to be factored in.

The EPA’s statement comes just a few months after the Obama administration called on federal agencies to consider the climate impacts of their projects and at a time of increasing pipeline protests due to environmental justice and climate impacts.

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Editor’s Note:  This is exactly the point SOCAN made in our submission written  in response to the FERC Draft Environmental Impact Statement in the Jordan Cove / Pacific Connector Project.  It’s great that, at last, the EPA has caught up with SOCAN.  May they do so again and repeatedly.