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ARTICLE · 19 JUNE 2025

Supreme Court Clarifies And Narrows NEPA Scope In Key Infrastructure Ruling

Duane Morris LLP
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On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States published a significant decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, et al. v. Eagle County, Colorado, et al.

United StatesEnvironment
Lindsay Ann Brown
Lindsay Ann Brown
David Amerikaner
David Amerikaner
Louis Formisano
Louis Formisano
Matthew L. Capone
Matthew L. Capone
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On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States published a significant decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, et al. v. Eagle County, Colorado, et al.,which narrowly interprets the scope of environmental review required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and emphasizes the limited role courts play in reviewing agency decision-making under NEPA. More broadly, Seven County signals a trend toward curtailing legal hurdles for infrastructure projects and further clarifying the application of the Court's decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned Chevron deference.

Seven County concerned the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's (STB) review of an application for construction of an 88-mile railroad line in Utah facilitating the transportation of crude oil to refineries along the Gulf Coast. As required by NEPA, the STB's project review included the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) that

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Disclaimer: This Alert has been prepared and published for informational purposes only and is not offered, nor should be construed, as legal advice. For more information, please see the firm's full disclaimer.

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