The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has rejected a Formal Complaint filed June 21 by Wild Virginia, Preserve Craig, Indian Creek Watershed Association and two private landowners regarding numerous violations by the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) of conditions set forth in the Certificate FERC had granted the project. The complaint requested FERC to suspend or revoke its Certificate for the project and to issue a project-wide stop work order.”
In its August 28 response rejecting the request, FERC stated that the Director of the Office of Energy Projects (Director) authorized construction of the MVP “to continue in areas where Mountain Valley had the applicable authorizations required under federal law because it was deemed the best way to mitigate further impacts on the environment. Given the large percentage of right-of-way that had been cleared and graded, the Director determined that protection of the environment along the Project’s right-of-way across non-federal land is best served by completing construction and restoration activities in as short a time as feasible, while complying with all laws and conditions of the certificate order.”
The FERC action on the complaint is subject to a rehearing request that can be made within 30 days of the issuance of the letter (September 27).