A US federal appeals court on Friday dealt a major setback to Kinder Morgan's plans to build a natural gas pipeline in Tennessee. 

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay, temporarily halting construction of the Cumberland Project, pending further review.

The Court’s decision resulted from a legal challenge filed by Environmental groups Appalachian Voices and Sierra Club. The groups argued that the pipeline project would harm the environment and pose risks to local communities. The court agreed, finding that the groups had raised "serious questions" about the project's potential impacts.

The ruling is a significant victory for environmental advocates who have been fighting the pipeline project for years. 

Bri Knisely, Director of Public Power Campaigns at Appalachian Voices, welcomed the decision, stating that the pipeline "poses a major, unnecessary risk to important aquatic habitat in Tennessee, as well as the health and safety of our communities."

Kinder Morgan, the company behind the pipeline, expressed disappointment with the court's decision and said it would continue to evaluate its options. If it were completed, the Cumberland Project would have transported natural gas to power supplier Tennessee Valley Authority.

The court is expected to hear arguments on the merits of the case in December.