Natural Resources Defense Council v. United States Department of State

Filing Date: 2008
Case Categories:
Principal Laws:
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Description: Challenge to planned pipeline that would carry oil from Canadian tar sands to U.S.
  • Natural Resources Defense Council v. United States Department of State
    Docket number(s): 08-1363
    Court/Admin Entity: D.D.C.
    Case Documents:
    Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary
    09/29/2009 Memorandum Opinion Motion by NRDC to block planned pipeline denied. A federal district court denied a motion by NRDC to block a planned pipeline that would carry oil from Canadian tar sands to the United States. NRDC claimed that the State Department violated NEPA by issuing a permit to a company to build a cross-border oil pipeline. The court held that the group had no legal right to intervene in a permitting action carried out by a federal agency, holding that the President had complete, unfettered discretion over the permitting process.