Federal Court Throws Out Forest Service Permit, Rules Agency Can’t Authorize Crossing AT

RICHMOND, VA— Today the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a federal approval for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross two national forests, including parts of the Appalachian Trail.  

 “The George Washington National Forest, Monongahela National Forest and the Appalachian Trail are national treasures.  The Administration was far too eager to trade them away for a pipeline conceived to deliver profit to its developers, not gas to consumers.  This pipeline is unnecessary and asking natural gas customers to pay developers to blast this boondoggle through our public lands only adds insult to injury,” said Southern Environmental Law Center Attorney Patrick Hunter.

We are reviewing the opinion from the Court and its implications for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project and a press release is forthcoming.

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For more than 30 years, the Southern Environmental Law Center has used the power of the law to champion the environment of the Southeast. With more than 80 attorneys and nine offices across the region, SELC is widely recognized as the Southeast’s foremost environmental organization and regional leader. SELC works on a full range of environmental issues to protect our natural resources and the health and well-being of all the people in our region. www.SouthernEnvironment.org