Groups Tell Supreme Court to Resist ‘Bait’ in Keystone XL Case

The Supreme Court should reject pleas from the Trump administration and Keystone XL pipeline backers to revive a streamlined permitting program, environmental lawyers told the justices on Monday.

In a new brief, the Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council, and other groups said reinstating the program would thwart the purpose of the Endangered Species Act’s consultation requirements.

At issue is Nationwide Permit 12, a fast-track approval system for water crossings for oil and gas pipelines and other projects. A federal district court scrapped the program in a Keystone XL case in April, saying the Army Corps of ...