Morgan Caplan, morgan.caplan@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) sent the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission a request for an extension of time of three years to complete the MVP Southgate project that would extend the mainline into North Carolina.
Over the last 5 years, as residents across Appalachia have been organizing to ensure that the extension is not built, construction of Southgate has not yet begun, and MVP has even withdrawn its eminent domain cases against all North Carolina landowners along the Southgate route.
Further, MVP has not resubmitted an application for its missing water certification in North Carolina, still lacks a Clean Water Act section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and was denied a critical air permit for Southgate’s proposed Lambert Compressor Station in Virginia, due to environmental justice concerns.
Caroline Hansley, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club and North Carolina resident, said, “Regardless of Congress attempting to rubber stamp the Mountain Valley Pipeline mainline, these facts still remain for Southgate -- no trees have been cut, no pipe has been laid, and there hasn't been any meaningful headway to commence construction. Up until last week, the Mountain Valley Pipeline had all but packed up their bags with the Southgate extension, which was a clear signal that their long list of missing permits and violations would not allow them to see the finish line with this project. Rather than further endangering communities, FERC needs to deny this request the way the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has done, and ensure MVP’s harm does not start in North Carolina as well.”
Haw Riverkeeper Emily Sutton said, “This project has already been denied by North Carolina. Impacted community members, local governments, and advocates across the state have worked tirelessly to demonstrate that this project will not serve North Carolinians. We can not continue to destroy our rivers and put our communities at risk for corporate gain. FERC needs to deny this extension request.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.