The Supreme Court today turned down a sweeping challenge to pipeline oversight and took no action on a closely watched Clean Water Act debate.
The justices declined to consider their challenge.
Petitioners first challenged FERC’s process in federal district court, where the case was dismissed for a lack of jurisdiction.
The landowners then approached the Supreme Court.
Government lawyers urged the justices to reject the petition and preserve the 4th Circuit’s decision.
That process, landowners say, could result in a pipeline project overtaking their land before their complaints receive a proper airing.
Because Congress said so.
The petitions pending before the Supreme Court involve decisions from the 9th U.S.
There the courts sided with environmentalists who argued the Clean Water Act applies to pollution that moved from wastewater wells and a pipeline, through groundwater, and into major bodies of water.
Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately sided with Encana, and the Supreme Court today declined to review that decision.