fracking

December 11, 2017

Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a tolling order for the fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). Although the Natural Gas Act requires that FERC act on rehearing requests within 30 days so that parties challenging a pipeline can quickly go to court, FERC uses tolling orders to extend the deadline for it to decide the rehearing request.

December 8, 2017

A coalition of environmental groups filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to overturn Virginia’s unlawful approval of the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). Today’s action comes just a day after the Virginia State Water Control Board issued a certificate under the Clean Water Act that MVP needed to obtain to begin construction.

December 7, 2017

Today, the Virginia State Water Control Board allowed construction of the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), despite public opposition and evidence the pipeline would irrevocably degrade pristine streams and waterways.

December 6, 2017

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection again waived its opportunity to review the water quality impacts of a fracked gas pipeline, this time with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

December 1, 2017

Today, the United States Forest Service issued a decision to allow the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) to cross the Jefferson National Forest. In addition to its role in exacerbating climate change, the Sierra Club opposes this pipeline on the grounds that the need for it does not exist, and there is no need to send it through undisturbed portions of the Appalachian Trail and Jefferson National Forest.

December 1, 2017

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Neil Chatterjee told the American Gas Association’s Natural Gas Roundtable that more focused and sophisticated resistance from environmental organizations was slowing down the approval process for gas infrastructure.

November 29, 2017

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission ordered Citizen Energy to cut pressure and volume at an oil well near Yukon, OK on Monday following a series of earthquakes believed to be caused by Citizen’s fracking operations.

November 21, 2017

Just a few months after winning the landmark Sabal Trail case, the Sierra Club filed comments slamming the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for failing to comply with the court’s decision.

November 16, 2017

Today, the United States Forest Service issued a decision to allow the fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) to proceed. The Sierra Club will challenge the decision.

November 16, 2017

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected New York’s request for a rehearing and stay of FERC’s September 15, 2017 Declaratory Order, which found that New York waived its authority to issue a water quality certification for the Valley Lateral Project. Simultaneously, FERC denied New York’s Request for Stay of the Notice to Proceed.

November 15, 2017

The Sierra Club released a comprehensive map of gas pipeline projects across the United States. The interactive map allows users to see how close their homes, schools, daycare centers, nursing homes and hospitals are to gas pipelines, including whether or not they fall in the blast zone or evacuation zone.

November 15, 2017

The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) filed a rehearing request yesterday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to challenge the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s (ACP) guaranteed 14% return on equity. The rehearing request comes as the Sierra Club and watchdog groups have been raising concerns over the lack of necessity for these pipelines, as well as the fact that ratepayers could be on the hook to pay for them.