Permitting

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Nationwide permitting for linear projects, relied upon by pipeline operators for construction and maintenance projects, recently survived a challenge from environmental groups. On December 30, 2013, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma ruled against the Sierra Club and other environmental groups in their challenge to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) use of Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP 12) for linear utility line projects. …
Continue Reading Federal Court Upholds Issuance of Nationwide Permits for Pipeline Construction

In late 2013, the U.S. State Department granted a Presidential Permit approving the reversal of flow of an existing pipeline that crosses the U.S.-Canadian border in North Dakota. In contrast to other pending Presidential Permits for several proposed pipelines, such as Keystone XL, it appears that the State Department limited its review in this instance to a short section of the pipeline at the border crossing, as opposed to the entire pipeline.
Continue Reading Review of Presidential Permit Limited to Border Crossing (Not Entire Pipeline)

Two bills aimed at expediting pipeline construction permitting and, in turn, U.S. energy production are moving through the House of Representatives, but face opposition in the Senate and the White House. The Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act passed the House of Representatives by a large majority on Thursday, November 21, 2013.
Continue Reading House Votes on Two New Pieces of Proposed Pipeline Legislation

Representative Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) introduced HR 1900, to provide for timely consideration of licenses, permits, and approvals with respect to the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline projects. The bill would amend the Natural Gas Act by requiring FERC to approve or deny a certificate of public convenience or necessity no…

In response to the PSA amendments of 2011, GAO reviewed permitting processes for both interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline projects given the recent increase in pipelines needed to manage the growth in domestic natural gas production.  While the report does not make any particular recommendations, it does examine the various permit processes necessary to…

Despite the goal of the 2005 Energy Policy Act’s (EPAct) to streamline and expedite permitting for natural gas pipeline construction projects, a recent study funded by INGAA found that non-FERC agencies have experienced increased delays in permitting projects. The percentage of federal authorizations issued more than 90 days beyond FERC’s issuance of its final NEPA…