Three environmental organizations filed a lawsuit in federal district court for the Western District of Tennessee challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 2017 issuance of Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP 12), as well as the Corps’ verification of use of NWP 12 for the Byhalia crude oil pipeline. The organizations asserted claims under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The complaint alleged, among other things, that the Corps failed to take a hard look at the climate change impacts of the 2017 issuance of NWP 12—which covered utility lines, including pipelines. The organizations alleged that potential climate impacts included increased life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas pipeline approval under NWP 12.

Challenge to issuance of 2017 Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12 and the verification of the use of NWP 12 for the Byhalia crude oil pipeline.

Memphis Community Against Pollution, Inc. v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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Environmental Groups Challenged Use of Nationwide Permit 12 to Authorize Crude Oil Pipeline

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Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

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Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

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A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

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Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

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Environmental Groups Challenged Use of Nationwide Permit 12 to Authorize Crude Oil Pipeline

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance