By Arathy Somasekhar

April 4 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday

upheld federal approval of a deepwater oil-export facility

planned off the Texas Gulf Coast, saying the proposed Enterprise

Products Partners ( EPD ) facility had met environmental review

criteria.

Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, had called

for a review arguing that the project's environmental assessment

failed to fully assess the danger of oil spills, emissions or

its affect on protected marine life.

The U.S. Maritime Administration "adequately considered the

environmental consequences of the facility before approving its

deepwater port license," Judge Dana Douglas wrote on behalf of a

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel.

The maritime agency "reasonably concluded" that excess crude

oil in the U.S. would be exported through means other than

through the proposed port, judge Douglas wrote.

"We hold that the agency took a hard look at the

environmental consequences of the Port, offered enough detail

for the public to understand and consider the pertinent

environmental influences involved," she wrote, calling the

agency's decision "informed."

Enterprise received a record of decision, a major milestone

for its Sea Port Oil Terminal late last year. But the pipeline

operator has yet to receive a U.S. license for the project and

has not disclosed a final investment decision.