The approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline...was illegal, a Supreme Administrative Court judge said...However, judge Panuphan Chairat stopped short of ordering the revocation of the pipeline's permit, as demanded by a group of 18 residents from Songkhla's Chana district…An expert panel of the National Environment Board (NEB) approved the EIA for the pipeline, a joint venture between PTT...and Malaysia's Petronas, in 2001…Judge Panuphan said the NEB approved the EIA despite rejecting a social impact assessment and mitigation plan submitted by the developers…Judge Panuphan, however, suggested the panel's resolution and the permits should not be revoked, as stopping the pipeline's operations would cause huge economic losses for the country. He said the panel which approved the EIA should review its decision…