A panel of federal judges has directed the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to expand on its permit decision that blocked National Fuel's Northern Access pipeline project.
The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals panel found that the denial letter issued by DEC "insufficiently explains any rational connection between facts found and choices made." Because of that, the judges vacated DEC's denial and sent the matter back to the agency for further explanation.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration has repeatedly used its authority under the federal Clean Water Act to block pipelines approved by federal authorities and other states, and is facing several legal challenges as a result.

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