Friends of the Headwaters v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Filing Date: 2021
Case Categories:
Principal Laws:
Administrative Procedure Act (APA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA)
Description: Challenge to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits for the Enbridge Energy Line 3 pipeline replacement project.
  • Friends of the Headwaters v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
    Docket number(s): 1:21-cv-00189
    Court/Admin Entity: D.D.C.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    02/16/2021 Complaint Download First amended complaint filed.
    01/21/2021 Complaint Download Complaint filed. Lawsuit Challenged Corps of Engineers Permits for Line 3 Pipeline. On January 21, 2021, a new lawsuit was filed in the federal district court for the District of Columbia challenging permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Enbridge Energy, LP’s Line 3 crude oil pipeline in Minnesota. The plaintiff asserted that the Corps failed to comply with the Clean Water Act, NEPA, Corps regulations, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The complaint’s allegations of NEPA noncompliance included that the Corps failed to consider the potential lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from putting the Line 3 oil pipeline into service and the associated social cost of climate change. In a related case, the court on February 7 denied a motion for a preliminary injunction.