A Montana federal judge who overturned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' water-crossing construction permit program for thousands of power and energy projects has denied the government's plea to immediately stay that ruling, which termed the agency's Nationwide Permit 12 illegal.
Judge Brian Morris, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Great Falls, Mont., on April 28 rejected the U.S. Justice Dept. motion for the stay, but said he will hear briefings from the government and make a final ruling by May 11