EDF Fighting FERC’s Spire STL Decision, Citing ‘Clear Lack of Need’ for Natural Gas Pipe

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is urging a federal appeals court to strike down FERC’s certificate for the 66-mile Spire STL Pipeline LLC, arguing that the Commission failed to follow its legal responsibilities when it approved the project in 2018.

In particular, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s reliance on an affiliated precedent agreement in determining the public need for the STL project is “an egregious failure to fulfill its statutory responsibility,” the environmental group said Friday in a brief filed with the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

FERC should have more closely scrutinized Spire STL’s agreement with affiliate Spire Missouri Inc., according to the group.

“Given the inherent risks posed to the...