A draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for restoration of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline route is still on track to be released by the end of July, according to conversations ABRA had this week with key staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
White House unveils environmental justice plans
The Biden White House provided details this week of how it will begin the process of ensuring at least 40% of the benefits from federal energy and environmental spending reach disadvantaged communities. In a July 20 memorandum to the heads of all federal departments and agencies,
Army Corps extends time for VA DEQ to act on MVP 401 request
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) an additional six months for it to act on a request for water quality certification for the new water crossings proposed for the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Off-road vehicles on public lands: a growing issue in WV
Recent efforts in the West Virginia General Assembly to promote off-highway vehicles (ORVs) on public lands is a growing concern among conservation groups in West Virginia. In the 2021 session of the West Virginia General Assembly there were 8 bills and 2 resolutions introduced to promote the use of off-road vehicles on West Virginnia’s public lands.
Virginia certification of MVP water crossings still uncertain
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has responded to a May 13 request from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as to whether DEQ intended to require for the Mountain Valley Pipeline a new certificate under section 401 of the Clean Water Act concerning the project’s proposal to change the waterbody crossing method for the project at 120 stream or river crossings,
New GAO report on pipeline safety released
The General Accountability Office (GAO), a research agency that is part of the U.S. Congress, released a new study last month on pipeline safety. Performance Measures Needed to Assess Recent Changes to Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Regulations was released June 22.
DC Circuit slams FERC criteria for approving pipelines
The long-standing practice of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) justifying the need for a new pipeline by over relying on a pipeline’s plans to sell gas to an associated company (e.g., precedent agreements) to establish market need was called into serious question by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals in a decision released June 22.
Conservation Hub takes flight
In August of last year, shortly after the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, ABRA announced the launch of a new program…the Conservation Hub. Building on the experience and success of the Compliance Surveillance Initiative, or CSI,
VA DEQ urged to require certification for MVP water crossings
Fifteen conservation organizations, including ABRA, wrote the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on June 21 arguing that the agency must require certification under section 401 of the Clean Water Act for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to tunnel under nearly 100 streams and wetlands in Virginia.
West Virginia Rivers releases new video on MVP water violations
West Virginia Rivers Coalition, an ABRA member, released this week an excellent video documenting the serious stream sediment violations – 50 incidents – that have occurred because of construction activity of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). The video (2 ½ minutes) depicts the significant inadequacy of the MVP’s attempts to control dangerous sediment from fouling West Virginia streams and rivers that are in the path of the project.