ELR Citation: 55 ELR 20049
No(s). 20-1503 (D.C. Cir. Apr 15, 2025)

The D.C. Circuit denied environmental groups' petitions to review DOE's authorization of a project to export from Alaska to non-free trade countries up to 20 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum for 30 years. The groups argued DOE misconceived the "public interest" and failed to comply with NEPA when it authorized the project, which involved construction and operation of a gas treatment plant, an 800-mile pipeline across the state, a liquefaction plant, and a terminal for loading the LNG onto ocean tankers. The court held that it had already determined in a previous ruling that FERC properly found it was not inconsistent with the public interest to build the pipeline and associated facilities, and that the impacts of downstream emissions in foreign countries were not reasonably foreseeable, so the alleged failure to quantify them did not amount to a NEPA violation. It denied the petitions.