Oct 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday put on

hold approvals and permits necessary to allow a Kinder Morgan ( KMI )

subsidiary to construct a 32-mile gas pipeline in

Tennessee, at the urging of environmental groups.

The proposed Cumberland Project, set to be constructed

by Kinder Morgan's ( KMI ) Tennessee Gas Pipeline, could transport about

245,000 dekatherms per day of additional natural gas to power

supplier Tennessee Valley Authority.

On a

2-1 vote

, Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put a

hold on the Tennessee Department of Environment and

Conservation's order issuing a water quality certification and

the Army Corps of Engineers' issuance of a permit.

The request for a stay was filed by environmental

organizations Appalachian Voices and Sierra Club, which claimed

the pipeline's construction could have detrimental impact on the

environment.

The court said a stay was appropriate for it to have the

time to consider the merits of the environmental groups' case.

It said further arguments in the case would be heard in

December.

A Kinder Morgan ( KMI ) spokesperson said the company does not agree

with the court's decision, which it will continue to review

while evaluating its options.

Appalachian Voices and Sierra Club did not immediately

respond to Reuters' requests for comment.