Fifth Circuit Weighs Whether LNG Project Changes Needed Review

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Monday grappled with whether changes made to a deepwater liquefied natural gas port in the Gulf of Mexico required another round of environmental review by the Transportation Department.

Lauren Parker of the Center for Biological Diversity, who argued on behalf of the petitioners, told the panel that the department’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) had taken note of Delfin LNG LLC’s project changes. But MARAD didn’t follow through on requiring a new application, she said.

“MARAD determined in April 2024 that Delfin’s revised project no longer aligned with the 2017 record of ...