Company: PAGP
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001581990-25-000006
Chunk: 397

Company: PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP
Filing Date: 2025-02-28
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 397
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 federal and provincial laws also impose requirements relating to the prevention of oil releases and the remediation of impacted areas. 

The construction or expansion of pipelines often requires authorizations under the CWA, which authorizations may be subject to challenge. For over 35 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) has authorized construction, maintenance and repair of pipelines under a streamlined nationwide permit program known as Nationwide Permit 12 (“NWP 12”). From time to time, environmental groups have challenged the use of NWP 12 for oil and gas pipeline projects. Due to these types of challenges along with new directives that come along with administrative changes, the Corps will review and make updates to their programs as well.

In January 2021, the Corps published a reissuance of NWP 12, but this permit is being challenged in federal court on the same grounds that were litigated in an April 2020 case surrounding a failure to conduct Endangered Species Act consultations. In May 2022, the Corps announced it was beginning a formal review of NWP 12 and may make changes to the program. While the full extent and impact of these recent developments is unclear at this time, any disruption in our ability to obtain coverage under NWP 12 or other general permits may result in increased costs and project delays if we are forced to seek individual permits from the Corps.

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Also, there continues to be uncertainty on the federal government’s applicable jurisdictional reach under the CWA over waters of the United States (“WOTUS”), including wetlands. The EPA and the Corps have pursued multiple rulemakings under the Obama, Trump, and Biden Administrations in attempts to determine the scope of such reach. Following legal actions, implementation of the most recent rule is currently split across the country. The rule is subject to an injunction in 27 states resulting in implementation of the pre-2015 rule adjusted to take in into account jurisdictional limitations decided by SCOTUS in Sackett v. EPA. The other 23 states are subject to a WOTUS-defining rule published in September 2023. Further, the current Trump Administration may pursue a new rulemaking to further revise or clarify the extent of federal jurisdiction under the CWA, though the substance and timing of such action cannot be predicted. In addition, on January 8, 2025, the Corps published revisions to their Ordinary High Water Mark Manual, a key technical document used by the