ELR Citation: 41 ELR 20344
No(s). C 11-01564 WHA (N.D. Cal. Nov 14, 2011) (Alsup, J.)

A district court held that DOE complied with NEPA when it determined that the construction of a "supercomputer" project on a college campus would have no significant environmental impact and did not require an EIS. The EA took a hard look at direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adequately analyzed the impacts of the project's GHG emissions, and made a reasonable determination that the GHG emissions would not significantly impact the environment. The EA also described the methodology DOE used to reach its GHG emissions conclusions. DOE also took a hard look at noise and traffic impacts. And there is no basis to support plaintiffs' claim that the construction of the proposed facility is highly controversial or located in a geologically unstable area. DOE's decision not to prepare a full-scale EIS was therefore upheld.