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Doug Canter Examines LNG Exports and Legal Challenges for ABA's Trends Newsletter

January 29, 2017

In the January 2017 issue of Trends, the newsletter of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Energy & Utilities Principal Douglas M. Canter examines liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and legal challenges to related projects. 

In the article, Mr. Canter notes that "the first...LNG...export terminal in the United States opened in 2016. Yet, legal challenges to LNG export projects continue. Four recent decisions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit address these challenges."

The article goes on to provide analysis of the D.C Circuit decisions:

  • Sierra Club v. FERC, 827 F.3d 36 (D.C. Cir. 2016) (Sierra Club (Freeport LNG))
  • Sierra Club v. FERC, 827 F.3d 59 (D.C. Cir. 2016) (Sierra Club (Sabine Pass))
  • Earth Reports, Inc. v. FERC, 828 F.3d 949 (D.C. Cir. 2016) (Earth Reports)
  • Sierra Club v. FERC, Case No. 15-1133 (D.C. Cir.) (per curiam) (Cheniere)

Mr. Canter notes that, "in each case, the court affirmed [Federal Energy Regulation Commission] FERC’s authorization of the facilities and rejected petitioners’ [National Environmental Policy Act] NEPA arguments."