GAIN Legal Advisor: “Complete the Bayou Bridge Pipeline Now”
In February U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued a preliminary injunction against the Bayou Bridge Pipeline. The ruling, which halted construction in the Atchafalaya Basin, ignores the hard work by federal, state and local officials as well as Bayou Bridge to safeguard the local communities and Louisiana’s environmental resources.
GAIN Legal Advisor Richard Epstein recently wrote a legal analysis of the case filings in Forbes weighing the merits Judge Dick’s decision. He argues that if the ruling is allowed to stand it will only increase the risk of environmental degradation in the Atchafalaya Basin.
Epstein’s first issue is the proposed pipeline extension was never challenged by the plaintiffs until after it was approved. Secondly the complaint made by the plaintiffs completely ignores the major benefits of the project. Finally he said Judge Dick’s ruling was a gross miscalculation.
As he writes:
“The entire tenor of these remarks ignores how BBP can operate more cheaply and safely than its rivals, thereby lowering both cost of shipment and environmental risks. These statements also ignore the obvious possibility of increased demand for the shipment of fossil fuels for both domestic and foreign consumption, which could not be satisfied by current facilities.”
GAIN is looking forward to a speedy resolution of this issue so that the project can proceed without any further, and unwarranted delay.
