Chief Judge Brian Morris for the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana said on April 28 that he would not issue an administrative stay to his April 15 order blocking the Army Corps’ Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP12) program, pending consultation with other federal agencies under the Endangered Species Act. The judge’s earlier decision (see ABRA Update #273 for earlier story) effectively halted the authority of the U.S. Corps of Engineers from issuing any permits for any project subject to NWP12. This includes the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which at this date does not have a valid NWP12 permit in any of the four Corps districts in which the project’s route runs. Last week, the Corps suspended issuing any NWP12 permits. Judge Morris in his April 28 ruling establish a briefing schedule for the April 15 decision to be appealed.

Court Denies Request for A Stay of Keystone XL Decision Affecting NWP 12

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.