The Southgate Project, a proposed extension of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) into North Carolina, has received a favorable environmental review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The project, initiated in a filing with FERC in May 2018, would be a 75-mile natural gas transmission pipeline from Pittsylvania County,
Information About the Supreme Court Argument of the Cowpasture Case
The U.S. Supreme Court argument of the Cowpasture River Preservation Association v. Forest Service will take place on Monday, February 24 at 10 am. One-hour is scheduled for the case; another case is scheduled to be heard by the Court at 11 a.m.
Virginia DEQ Launches Environmental Justice Study
An effort to develoop recommendations for incorporation environmental justice principles into the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) programs and actions, announced last September by the agency, will soon begin interviewing environmental justice stakeholders, non-government organizations, local govrnment offiicials and others in coming weeks.
Federal Court Rebuffs FWS Over Classification of Northern Long-Eared Bat
The 2015 listing of the northern long-eared bat as “threatened” rather than “endangered” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has been rejected by U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The January 28 decision by the Court,
FERC Restarts New Fish and Wildlife Permit Process for ACP
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has requested in a February 10 letter that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) reinitiate formal consultation with Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC (ACP, LLC) to develop a new Biological Opinion (BO) and Incidental Take Statement (ITS) on the company’s proposed pipeline.
Army Corps Warned Not to Issue New Permit for ACP
The Norfolk District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has been told that it would violate legal requirements should it reinstate the suspended verification for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) using the Corps’ Nationwide 12 Permit (NWP12). The argument was set forth in a February 11 letter from the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC),
VA Pipeline Bills Clear Committee, Head for House Floor; Action Needed! Now!
Three bills designed to tighten up state regulation of pipelines cleared the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee of the Virginia House of Delegates on February 5. The measures now head to the House floor and they must be acted upon before February 11 to be considered in the Senate.
Congress Hears Testimony on Need to Reform Natural Gas Act
The Natural Gas Act, which has not been amended in decades, was the subject of a broad hearing on February 5 by the Energy Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In opening remarks, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ,
WV Considers Legislation to Increase Penalties for Pipeline Protesters
Legislation was introduced January 30 in the West Virginia House of Delegates that would heighten the penalties for protesting near oil and gas pipelines and other infrastructures. Under the provisions of H.R 4615 knowingly trespassing on property containing a critical infrastructure facility is punishable by a year in jail and a $500 fine.
New Paper Underscores Lack of Need, High Risks of the ACP
“Continued efforts to complete the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) are fraught with risks” to investors, ratepayers and those who live along the route of the ACP, according to a new paper released January 30 by ABRA. “Why Support for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Adds Risks to Shareholders and Ratepayers” is authored by Thomas Hadwin,