Federal Court Orders Review of $1 Billion New Jersey Gas Pipeline

A federal appeals court has ordered New Jersey's environmental regulators to reexamine their approval of a $1 billion-plus natural gas pipeline upgrade project. The Northeast Supply Enhancement, or NESE, project aims to increase natural gas supply into the Long Island region by 13% following its scheduled completion next year.

The decision by a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia comes after environmental groups challenged the approval of the water-quality permit. The judges found that New Jersey regulators failed to adequately explain their decision and ordered them to revisit their approval.

Representatives for the project said the decision won't change the timeline, but environmentalists are celebrating what they call a 'win for the waterways'.