Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC has received US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) permission to resume construction of its 303-mile, 2-bcfd natural gas pipeline through West Virginia and Virginia. FERC also granted a 2-year extension for completion of the pipeline, through Oct. 13, 2022.
The previous stop-work order, issued in October 2019, remains in place for 25 miles through Jefferson National Forest and adjacent land in Virginia. The US Forest Service still need to approve construction through federal woodlands.
In the meantime, environmental groups, including The Sierra Club, have petitioned the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals to review US Army Corps of Engineers permits issued last month for crossing of streams and wetlands along the pipeline’s route, saying that they were issued unlawfully and asking they be stayed until the court hears the case.
EQM Midstream Partners LP owns a 45.5% operating interest in Mountain Valley with affiliates of NextEra Energy Inc., Consolidated Edison Inc., AltaGas Ltd., and RGC Resources Inc. owning the balance.