Description: Challenge to FERC approvals of liquefied natural gas facilities in Louisiana.
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Sierra Club v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 03/16/2015 Motion Download Voluntary dismissal granted. On March 16, 2015, Sierra Club and Gulf Restoration Network asked the D.C. Circuit
Court of Appeals to dismiss their challenge. The court granted the request on the same
day.02/04/2015 Order Download Order issued. The court denied FERC’s motion. 11/14/2014 Motion Download Motion for summary affirmance and dismissal filed. FERC moved for summary affirmance and dismissal. FERC argued that its determination
to reject Sierra Club’s rehearing petition as untimely should be summarily affirmed, and
that since timely rehearing was not sought, the D.C. Circuit was without jurisdiction to
hear the challenge to FERC’s approvals of the projects at the LNG facility. Sierra Club
filed the rehearing petition 25 seconds after close of business on the last day of the 30-
day period during which it could seek rehearing after FERC issued its orders approving
the projects. Sierra Club filed its opposition to the motion on December 5, 2014.FERC moved for summary affirmance and dismissal. FERC argued that its determination
to reject Sierra Club’s rehearing petition as untimely should be summarily affirmed, and
that since timely rehearing was not sought, the D.C. Circuit was without jurisdiction to
hear the challenge to FERC’s approvals of the projects at the LNG facility. Sierra Club
filed the rehearing petition 25 seconds after close of business on the last day of the 30-
day period during which it could seek rehearing after FERC issued its orders approving
the projects. Sierra Club filed its opposition to the motion on December 5, 2014.09/29/2014 Petition Download Petition filed. Sierra Club and the Gulf Restoration Network filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking review of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions authorizing construction and operation of liquefaction facilities and pipeline and compression facilities in Louisiana. The liquefaction facilities are to be constructed at the site of an existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal, and the actions approved by FERC will facilitate the export of LNG. FERC rejected Sierra Club’s contentions that the facilities would result in increased domestic natural gas production and cause environmental harms, including increased greenhouse gas emissions. The FERC actions for which petitioners seek review are its Order Granting Authorization Under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Action and Issuing Certificates (June 19, 2014); Notice Rejecting Request for Rehearing and Dismissing Request for Stay (July 29, 2014); and Order Denying Rehearing (September 26, 2014).