Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance

Fourth Circuit Hears Challenges to Forest Service and 401 Cases

A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond heard arguments last Friday, September 28, on two important cases challenging permits granted to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The first case challenged the December 13 decision by the Virginia State Water Control Board to grant a water quality certificate for the ACP (pursuant to requirements of Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act).

MVP Has Another Permit Struck Down

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District’s Nationwide Permit 12 for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) was vacated on October 2 by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. At this time, the court’s action only applies in West Virginia.

Augusta County Board Tables – Again – Proposal for ACP Storage Yard

The Augusta County, VA Board of Zoning (BZA) tabled the potential Dominion Pipeline storage yard yet again during its Thursday, October 4 meeting. Only three of the five members of the BZA were present. This is the fifth time and second location Dominion Energy has proposed a special use permit for a staging yard to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

Trump to Nominate Former McGuireWoods Partner to FERC Vacancy

Bernard McNamee, Executive Director of the Office of Policy for the U.S. Department of Energy, is to be nominated by President Trump to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, it was announced October 3 by the White House.

Virginia Energy Plan 2018 Unveiled

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam released on October 2 the 2018 Virginia Energy Plan. In his announcement release, the plan was described as providing “a strategic vision for the Commonwealth’s energy policy over the next 10 years. With a focus on modernizing the electric grid and promoting innovative technologies,

Court Stays ACP Forest Service Permit, Stop Work Order Requested

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit this week ordered a stay of the Special Use Permit that had been issued by the U.S. Forest Service for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The September 24 Order was the third time in four months that the Fourth Circuit has vacated or stayed federal authorization for the ACP.

Local & ACP

Forest Service emails raise questions about pipeline approval, catch judge’s eye

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– Richmond Times-Dispatch – 10/1/18

Regional & MVP

Another Court Ruling Against a West Virginia Pipeline, Then Another Effort to Change the Rules

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– ProPublica – 10/4/18

Big Picture

Climate scientists are struggling to find the right words for very bad news

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– The Washington Post – 10/3/18

Our member group Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition has produced a series of interactive Story Maps that take a deeper look at some of the reasons the ACP and MVP are unacceptable proposals. Click on the map image below to navigate to the full map content.