Court Opinion

ID: 4306823
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-23 19:00:17.118205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:07:15.186469
License: Public Domain

FILED: August 23, 2018

                                  UNPUBLISHED

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                          FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                    No. 18-1743

SIERRA CLUB; WEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION; WEST VIRGINIA
HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY; APPALACHIAN VOICES; CHESAPEAKE
CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK,

                   Petitioners,

             v.

UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS; MARK T. ESPER, in his
official capacity as Secretary of the U.S. Army; TODD T. SEMONITE, in his
official capacity as U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; PHILIP M. SECRIST, in his official capacity as
District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District;
MICHAEL E. HATTEN, in his official capacity as Chief, Regulatory Branch, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District,

                   Respondents,

ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE LLC,

                   Intervenor.

   On Petition for Review of an Order of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
                               (LRH-2014-00484-GBR)

                                     ORDER
PER CURIAM:

      On February 7, 2018, the Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers issued verifications finding that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is

authorized under Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP 12) to construct its pipeline through West

Virginia waters. Petitioners now move for a stay of that verification pending review.

They argue that ACP’s crossing of the Greenbrier River cannot satisfy the NWP 12

condition limiting the duration of water crossings in West Virginia to 72 hours.

      We deny Petitioners’ motion without prejudice. The record lacks clear evidence

that ACP is unable to comply with the 72-hour condition. In addition, the Huntington

District of the Corps has voluntarily suspended all NWP 12 verifications for ACP in West

Virginia pending ACP’s provision of additional information to ensure its compliance

with all NWP 12 conditions. ACP. Resp. Br. Ex. 2. Finally, ACP has committed “to

provide written notice to Petitioners prior to resuming any work authorized under NWP

12 so that Petitioners may review the Corps’ decision and pursue further relief from the

Corps or this Court,” ACP Resp. Br. 6, which we interpret to be not less than 14 business

days prior to resuming construction.

      Entered at the direction of Chief Judge Gregory with the concurrences of Judge

Wynn and Judge Thacker.

                                                                       MOTION DENIED

                                                                       FOR THE COURT

                                                                     /s/Patricia S. Connor
                                                                             Clerk

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