On Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued a favorable Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 2-Bcf/d Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) project -- for the third time since it was first approved in 2017. MVP needs USFS's OK in order to install a 42-inch-diameter pipeline along a 3.5-mile corridor through the Jefferson National Forest. The latest FEIS kicks off a 30-day comment period through May 15, after which the USFS could give the final authorization.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has revoked and remanded two prior USFS approvals after they were challenged by environmental groups, most recently in January 2022. The latest FEIS aims to adequately address the court's concerns about the impact of MVP's proposed plan to use a trenchless pipeline installation method at water crossings. (The trenchless method uses horizontal directional drilling to bore under the water body, as opposed to an open-cut method, which involves digging trenches to lay the pipe.)
Other good news for MVP in the past month or so included a favorable Biological Opinion (BioOp) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in February -- also for the third time -- and a 4th Circuit decision in March to uphold a key water permit in Virginia.
Despite the recent rare wins for MVP, however, final construction completion is likely to remain elusive, at least for this year if not longer. Both FERC and the Army Corps of Engineers have put a hold on final approvals for work to continue until the other federal and state permits are in place. The problem is that just as MVP secures one permit, it loses another.
