A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) did not violate the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in determining that a pipeline that would feed the Rio Grande liquefied natural gas (LNG) project will not significantly harm wild cats in South Texas.

USFWS issued a biological opinion (BO) and incidental take statement (ITS) related to construction of the Rio Bravo Pipeline. The ITS authorized one ocelot or jaguarundi could basically be taken, that is, harmed or harassed during construction, but overall determined the project would not jeopardize the cats’ continued existence. The Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife filed a petition to review the authorizations, arguing that they were arbitrary and capricious. 

The 137-mile Rio Bravo...