Enviro groups challenge park powerline OK

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Less than two weeks after the National Park Service gave its approval for new 500-kilovolt electric lines to cross the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 10 environmental groups on Monday filed a challenge to the decision in Federal District Court and are seeking to have the entire environmental study set aside.

Among the 11 causes of action, the lawsuit alleges that the National Park Service was influenced by the Obama Administration, which placed the project on a fast-track that "placed undue pressure on rapid approval" of the project even before the environmental study was done. . . .