FERC Will No Longer Complete Cumulative Impact Analyses in Environment Reviews

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Washington, DC — During its monthly open meeting today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) indicated that it no longer plans to complete cumulative impact analyses when conducting environmental reviews of projects. The change was announced in an order approving the Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage Project.

FERC Commissioner Chang wrote a separate concurrence to make clear that the Commission still has a legal obligation to assess proposed projects within the context of other existing or planned activities.

Donald Trump recently issued an executive order that directed the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to rescind its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. CEQ subsequently issued a rule removing its NEPA implementing regulations and directed agencies, including FERC, to update their NEPA procedures within 12 months.

In reaction, Sierra Club’s Director of Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy Mahyar Sorour released the following statement: 

“The projects that require approval from FERC do not exist in a vacuum. It would be both misguided and dangerous to pretend as if the pollution from a proposed project would not exacerbate the harmful impacts of existing and planned activities in a particular area. Pollution from oil and gas infrastructure contributes to poor health, perpetuates the climate crisis, and impacts the lives and livelihoods of people who live, work and recreate nearby.”

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.