Equitrans Midstream Corp. has entered a consent agreement with the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under which its Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline (MVP) team will accelerate both its previously planned series of inline inspections to verify the integrity of the pipeline and the regulatory timeline for conducting comprehensive cathodic protection surveys.
The agreement also acknowledges that transparently outlining the steps being taken to responsibly complete construction is of critical importance in reinforcing public confidence in the pipeline’s safe operation. KTA-Tator Inc. will serve as the project’s independent, third-party coating expert, endorsing MVP’s coating procedures and continuing a comprehensive field audit of its coating activities.
Equitrans said that it does not expect the terms of the agreement to have a material impact on project cost or schedule. The company plans to complete the 303-mile, 2-bcfd pipeline by end-2023.
Earlier this year, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed three lingering lawsuits against MVP (OGJ Online, Aug. 14, 2023). The pipeline, which has faced nearly continuous legal challenges since construction began in 2018, will transport gas from West Virginia to Mid-Atlantic US markets.