The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 12 grappled with energy companies’ bid to move into federal court several lawsuits filed by local Louisiana governments accusing the corporations of harming the state’s coastal wetlands.
In the case, Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana localities allege that the state’s environment was damaged, dating back to when oil production activities were carried out to honor federal refinery contracts during World War II.
Starting in 2013, six parishes along the Gulf of America coast in Louisiana initiated 42 lawsuits accusing oil and gas companies of violating a state permitting law, the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978….