A federal judge today issued a summary judgment in favor of the defendants in a lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of Mobile Baykeeper, which sought to compel the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw a nationwide permit issued to Plains Southcap, LLC in January 2013, allowing the company to construct a 41-mile pipeline between Mobile and Pascagoula to transport crude oil to a refinery.
The suit, which was filed in January 2014, argued the Corps violated provisions of the Clean Water Act by failing to account for the project’s proximity to Mobile County’s primary drinking water supply. The pipeline has the capacity to transport 150,000 to 200,000 barrels per day (or 6.3 to 8.4 million gallons per day) of crude oil beneath Hamilton Creek, which is within the watershed of Big Creek Lake, the primary drinking water source for more than 200,000 households in the majority of Mobile County, including the cities of Mobile, Prichard, Semmes, Saraland, Chickasaw and Spanish Fort in Baldwin County, according to the SELC.
kAm%96 r@CAD’ ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:E AC@46DD 2==@HD 2AA=:42?ED 7@C ?6H A:A6=:?6D E@ 2G@:5 >@C6 >6E:4F=@FD 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 2?2=JD:D 3J C64@8?:K:?8 2 D:?8=6[ D9@CE\E6C> :>A24E E@ DFCC@F?5:?8 H6E=2?5D E92E “>2J 25G6CD6=J 27764E 3@E9 DFC7246 H2E6C 2?5 8C@F?5H2E6C DFAA=:6D]”k^Am
kAm%96 ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:E 92D ;FDE 2 D:?8=6 4@?5:E:@? C68F=2E:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? ?62C D@FC46D @7 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 2?5 q2J<66A6C’D 8@2= H2D E@ C6BF:C6 !=2:?D E@ C62AA=J 7@C 2 >@C6 C:8@C@FD[ :?5:G:5F2= A6C>:E]k^Am
kAmpD DF49[ k2 E:E=6lQ!:A6=:?6 4@>A2?J :?E6CG6?6D :? =2HDF:E 282:?DE r@CADQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=28?:2AA6>@3:=6]4@>^A:A6=:?6\4@>A2?J\:?E6CG6?6\:?\4@CAD\=2HDF:E^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!=2:?D :?E6CG6?65 :? E96 DF:Ek^2m[ 2C8F:?8 E92E q2J<66A6C =24<65 E96 ;FC:D5:4E:@?2= DE2?5:?8 E@ 7:=6 E96 4@>A=2:?E 3642FD6 :E H2D 32D65 @? DA64F=2E:@? C682C5:?8 E96 C6=2E:G6=J =@H AC@323:=:EJ @7 2? @:= DA:==] qFE &]$] s:DEC:4E yF586 (:==:2> $E66=6 :?:E:2==J FA96=5 :E[ 56E6C>:?:?8 q2J<66A6C 925 :?5665 >256 G2=:5 2C8F>6?ED 23@FE E96 AC@;64E’D A@E6?E:2= 26DE96E:4 2?5 C64C62E:@?2= :>A24ED]k^Am
kAmqFE 27E6C E96 4@>A2?J G@=F?E2C:=J >256 4@?46DD:@?D 7@C DEC@?86C 4@?DECF4E:@? E649?:BF6D 24C@DD A@CE:@?D @7 E96 H2E6CD965 :? u63CF2CJ a_`c[ $E66=6 56E6C>:?65 q2J<66A6C’D 2C8F>6?ED 23@FE 5:DCFAE:?8 w2>:=E@? rC66< H6C6 >@@E[ ?@E @?=J 3642FD6 2 ?6H[ 9@C:K@?E2= 5C:==:?8 E649?:BF6 H@F=5 67764E:G6=J 6=:>:?2E6 E96 8C@FA’D 4@?46C?D 23@FE D:=E2E:@?[ 3FE 2=D@ 3642FD6 E96 r@CAD’ A6C>:E 5@6D ?@E C68F=2E6 H92E :D 86?6C2==J 4@?D:56C65 E@ 36 2 >F49 =6DD :?G2D:G6 A:A6 =2J:?8 AC@465FC6 E92? 5:88:?8 EC6?496D]k^Am
kAm“%9:D r@FCE 42??@E @C56C E96 r@CAD E@ C6G:D:E E96 AC@AC:6EJ @7 E96 A:A6=:?6’D DEC62> 4C@DD:?8D :? E96 w2>:=E@? rC66< H2E6CD965 FD:?8 ,9@C:K@?E2= 5C:==:?8. >6E9@5D 3642FD6[ 282:?[ E9@D6 24E:G:E:6D 72== @FED:56 E96 r@CAD’ ;FC:D5:4E:@? … :? E92E E96J 5@ ?@E :?G@=G6 5:D492C86 @7 5C65865 @C 7:== >2E6C:2=D :? &]$] H2E6CD[” $E66=6 HC@E6] “uFCE96C>@C6[ 5:C64E:?8 E96 r@CAD E@ C6D4:?5 @C C6\6I2>:?6 E96 y2?F2CJ a_`b G6C:7:42E:@?D :E 8C2?E65 7@C EC6?49 6I42G2E:@? 2E DEC62> 4C@DD:?8D H@F=5 36 2 9@==@H[ 6>AEJ[ >62?:?8=6DD 6I6C4:D6 2D E@ 4C@DD:?8D H96C6 E96 A:A6=:?6 H2D F=E:>2E6=J 3F:=E FD:?8 ,5C:==:?8. E649?:BF6D C2E96C E92? 4@?G6?E:@?2= EC6?49\2?5\DA@:= >6E9@5D]”k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ yF586 $E66=6 5:5 ?@E 28C66 H:E9 !=2:?D’ 2DD6CE:@? E92E q2J<66A6C 925 H:==7F==J 56=2J65 E96 DF:E F?E:= @?6 J62C 27E6C E96 A6C>:E 925 366? 8C2?E65[ E96C63J DF3;64E:?8 E96 4@>A2?J E@ F??646DD2CJ 6BF:E23=6 92C>] x?DE625[ 96 7@F?5 q2J<66A6C @?=J AFCDF65 7656C2= =:E:82E:@? 27E6C 2 DE2E6 42D6 7:=65 3J E96 |@3:=6 pC62 (2E6C 2?5 $6H6C $6CG:46 W|p($$X 2=D@ 7@F?5 :? 72G@C @7 E96 5676?52?E :? s646>36C[ a_`b]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 962CE @7 E96 2C8F>6?E[ $E66=6 HC@E6[ H2D C@@E65 :? @?=J EH@ @7 E96 C@F89=J b_ 86?6C2= 4@?5:E:@?D @7 8C2?E:?8 2 ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:Ei u:CDE[ H96E96C E96 r@CAD 5:5 :?5665 E2<6 :?E@ 244@F?E E96 AC@I:>:EJ @7 E96 A:A6=:?6 E@ E96 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C :?E2<6 @? q:8 rC66< {2<6 2?5 D64@?5[ H96E96C E96 r@CAD’ s:DEC:4E t?8:?66C 2?2=JK65 E96 AC@;64E 7@C “>@C6 E92? >:?:>2= :?5:G:5F2= @C 4F>F=2E:G6 25G6CD6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 67764ED” @C 2?J 67764ED “4@?EC2CJ E@ E96 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 7:CDE 4@?5:E:@?[ E96 r@CAD C625:=J 25>:EE65 :E 5:5 ?@E 4@?D:56C E96 A:A6=:?6’D AC@I:>:EJ E@ E96 :?E2<6] qFE 4:E:?8 42D6 =2H 7C@> 2 D:>:=2C 4@>A=2:?E :? (2D9:?8E@? DE2E6[ $E66=6 DF886DE65 E96 4@?5:E:@? “5:5 ?@E 6IAC6DD=J A=246 2 3FC56? @? E96 2AA=:42?E E@ AC@G:56 5@4F>6?E2E:@? E@ E96 r@CAD ” 2?5 “:E H@F=5 36 2? 23DFC5 C6DF=E E@ C6BF:C6 E96 r@CAD E@ 6G2=F2E6 2?5 6IA=2:? 9@H ,E96 A6C>:EE66. H:== 4@>A=J H:E9 E96D6 4@?5:E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmr@FCED 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 56E6C>:?65 E96 ?2EFC6 @7 E96 r@CAD’ ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:E :D E@ DEC62>=:?6 E96 AC@46DD[ D@ :? 67764E[ :E =2C86=J C6=:6G6D E96 286?4J @7 “:?G6DE:82E:G6 2?5 6G2=F2E:G6 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D AC:@C E@ :DDF:?8 G6C:7:42E:@?D]”k^Am
kAm“}2E:@?H:56 A6C>:ED 2C6 :?E6?565 E@ C65F46 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 4@DED 2?5 3FC56?D[ 2?5 E@ 2==@H AC@;64ED :? AC6\4=62C65 24E:G:E:6D E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5 H:E9 =:EE=6 56=2J @C A2A6CH@C<[” $E66=6 HC@E6] “s6>2?5:?8 E92E E96 r@CAD 4@?5F4E 2 D62C49:?8 6I2>:?2E:@? @7 6G6CJ 86?6C2= 4@?5:E:@? 7@C 6G6CJ G6C:7:42E:@? C6BF6DE H@F=5 F?56C>:?6 E9@D6 AFCA@D6D]”k^Am
kAmx? C682C5D E@ E96 4=2:> E96 r@CAD 72:=65 E@ A6C7@C> :ED 5F6 5:=:86?46 :? E96 “AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE[” $E66=6 282:? CF=65 :? 72G@C @7 E96 5676?52?ED] s6DA:E6 E96 D66>:?8=J DEC2:89E7@CH2C5?6DD @7 2? 6I46CAE 7C@> E96 86?6C2= ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:E DE2E:?8 “5:G:D:@? 2?5 5:DEC:4E 6?8:?66CD 42? AC@9:3:E E96 FD6 @7 E9:D ,A6C>:E. :? H2E6CD965D 7@C AF3=:4 H2E6C DFAA=:6D[ :7 :E :D :? E96 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE E@ 5@ D@[” E96 r@CAD 2C8F65 “E96 4:E65 E6IE 5@6D ?@E C6=2E6 E@ E96 G6C:7:42E:@? AC@46DD 2E 2==]”k^Am
kAmx?DE625[ :E “H2D C676CC:?8 E@ E9:D 5:D4C6E:@?2CJ 2FE9@C:EJ E@ AC@9:3:E FD6 @7 2 ,?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:E. 86?6C2==J :? 2 4=2DD @7 24E:G:E:6D @C =@42E:@?D 32D65 @? E96 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE[ C2E96C E92? :? D:?8F=2C G6C:7:42E:@? 564:D:@?D]”k^Am
kAm%96 4=2:> H6?E F?5:DAFE65 3J q2J<66A6C[ $E66=6 ?@E65[ =62G:?8 9:> E@ 4@?4=F56 “E96 =@?6 D6?E6?46 9:89=:89E65 3J q2J<66A6C 42??@E C62D@?23=J 36 C625 2D :>A@D:?8 2? 23D@=FE6 5FEJ @? 5:DEC:4E 6?8:?66CD E@ A6C7@C> 2 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE 2?2=JD:D 2D 2 AC6C6BF:D:E6 E@ G6C:7:42E:@?D :? 2? :?5:G:5F2= 42D6] %96 =2?8F286 :? BF6DE:@? DA62<D E@ H92E E96 r@CAD ‘42?’ 5@[ H:E9@FE DA64:7J:?8 H92E :E >FDE 5@]”k^Am
kAm%96 r@CAD 7FCE96C 36=:6G6D :E >6E 2 D:>:=2C 4@?5:E:@? 4:E65 3J q2J<66A6C :? E96 D6G6?\A286 564:D:@? 5@4F>6?E 2H2C5:?8 E96 A6C>:E E@ !=2:?D :? y2?F2CJ a_`b[ H9:49 DE2E65 2 C6G:6H @7 E96 AC@;64E C6DF=E65 :? “`` DA64:2= 4@?5:E:@?D E92E !=2:?D $@FE942A >FDE D2E:D7J 2?5 E96 C2E:@?2=6 7@C 6249[ 2?5 D6ED 7@CE9 E96 4@>A6?D2E@CJ >:E:82E:@? E92E H:== 36 C6BF:C65]”k^Am
kAmu:?2==J[ E96 r@CAD 25565[ 2?J 255:E:@?2= :?G6DE:82E:@? H@F=5 CF? 4@?EC2CJ E@ E96 “r@?8C6DD:@?2= :?E6?E” @7 E96 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE 4@?5:E:@?]k^Am
kAm“r@?D:56C:?8 2== @7 E96D6 724E@CD … E96 r@FCE C625:=J 4@?4=F56D E92E E96 r@CAD’ ;FDE:7:42E:@? @7 :ED >:?:>2= :>A24ED 56E6C>:?2E:@? :D ?@E D@ E9C62532C6 E92E E96 G6C:7:42E:@? 564:D:@?D H6C6 E96C63J C6?56C65 2C3:EC2CJ 2?5 42AC:4:@FD[” $E66=6 HC@E6] “%96 r@CAD 92D 2CE:4F=2E65 2 D2E:D724E@CJ 6IA=2?2E:@? 7@C :ED >:?:>2= :>A24ED 56E6C>:?2E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 2 C2E:@?2= 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? E96 724ED 7@F?5 2?5 E96 49@:46 >256] u@C E92E C62D@?[ C6>2?5 E@ E96 r@CAD :D ?6:E96C ?646DD2CJ ?@C 2AAC@AC:2E6 E@ C6BF:C6 E96 286?4J E@ 6IA=2:? H9J :E 5:5 H92E :E 5:5]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 ;F586>6?E[ $E66=6 5:D>:DD65 q2J<66A6C’D 4@>A=2:?E]k^Am
kAmx? 2 HC:EE6? DE2E6>6?E AC@G:565 ~4E] `f[ q2J<66A6C tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C r2D: r2==2H2J D2:5[ “(6 925 2 D6E324< J6DE6C52J :? @FC 7:89E E@ AC@E64E @FC 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C DFAA=J] p=E9@F89 E96 ;F586 7@F?5 E92E E96 r@CAD ?6G6C 4@?D:56C65 @FC 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C :?E2<6 :? G6C:7J:?8 2 ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:E 7@C E96 A:A6=:?6 4@>A2?J[ 96 D2:5 E92E E96 r@CAD H2D ?@E C6BF:C65 E@ 5@ D@] %96 ?2E:@?H:56 A6C>:EE:?8 AC@8C2> :D 2 DEC62>=:?65 A6C>:EE:?8 AC@46DD E92E 2==@HD 2AA=:42?ED E@ :8?@C6 C:8@C@FD 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6G:6H] ~FC 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 56D6CG6D >@C6 2?5 36EE6C AC@E64E:@?] (6 H:== <66A H@C<:?8 7@C 4=62? H2E6C[ 2?5 H6’== <66A H@C<:?8 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96 =@42=[ DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 286?4:6D[ 2D H6== 2D AC:G2E6 4@>A2?:6D[ 5@?’E 4@>AC@>:D6 @FC H2E6C]”k^Am
kAmpEE@C?6J y2CC@5 (9:E6[ H9@ C6AC6D6?E65 !=2:?D :? E96 42D6[ D2:5 “H6 2C6 A=62D65 E92E 27E6C C6G:6H:?8 2== @7 E96 C64@C5 2?5 2AA=:423=6 =2H[ E96 r@FCE 92D 28C665 H:E9 @FC A@D:E:@? 2?5 CF=65 :? 72G@C @7 E96 &]$] pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66CD 2?5 !=2:?D] %96 Wr@CADX C6G:6H65 E96 !=2:?D 2AA=:42E:@? 2?5 E96 56E6C>:?2E:@? H2D 4@CC64E :? 244@C52?46 H:E9 =2H] !=2:?D 92D 4@>A=:65 H:E9 E96 8@G6C?>6?E’D C68F=2E:@?D :? E96D6 2C62D]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 ;F58>6?E[ E96 A:A6=:?6 :D 4FCC6?E=J 4@>A=6E6 2?5 :? @A6C2E:@?[ 2 724E D:?46 G6C:7:65 3J 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C !=2:?D $@FE942A]k^Am
kAmk6>m&A52E65 ~4E] `f E@ :?4=F56 2 DE2E6>6?E 7C@> r2D: r2==2H2J]k^6>mk^Am
k9C ^m
k9am$&||p#* y&svt|t}%k^9am
kAm k^Am
kAm k^Am
k?@D4C:AEmU2>Aj=Ej2 9C67lUC5BF@jk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^Db]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^`b`ccgf^32J<66A6C\GD\F\D\2C>J\4@CAD\@7\6?8:?66CD\DF>>2CJ]A57Qm9EEAi^^Db]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^`b`ccgf^32J<66A6C\GD\F\D\2C>J\4@CAD\@7\6?8:?66CD\DF>>2CJ]A57k^2mUC5BF@jU2>Aj8Ej|@3:=6 q2J<66A6C GD] &]$] pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66CD $F>>2CJ yF58>6?E W!suXU2>Aj=Ej^2U2>Aj8EjU2>Aj=Ej^AU2>Aj8Ej U2>Aj=EjAU2>Aj8Ej U2>Aj=Ej2 9C67lUC5BF@jk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^Db]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^`b`ccgf^32J<66A6C\GD\F\D\2C>J\4@CAD\@7\6?8:?66CD\DF>>2CJ]EIEQm9EEAi^^Db]5@4F>6?E4=@F5]@C8^5@4F>6?ED^`b`ccgf^32J<66A6C\GD\F\D\2C>J\4@CAD\@7\6?8:?66CD\DF>>2CJ]EIEk^2mUC5BF@jU2>Aj8Ej|@3:=6 q2J<66A6C GD] &]$] pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66CD $F>>2CJ yF58>6?E W%6IEXU2>Aj=Ej^2U2>Aj8EjU2>Aj=Ej3C ^U2>Aj8Ejk^?@D4C:AEm
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.