Mountain Valley pipeline gets US Fish and Wildlife Service approval

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has concluded that construction and operation of Equitrans Midstream Corp.’s 303-mile, 42-in. OD Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline (MVP) “is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence” of five particular species. The agency has reached this conclusion twice in the past, but in both instances  had its findings overturned in the courts (OGJ Online, Apr. 11, 2022).

The species in question are the Virginia spiraea (plant), Indiana bat, Northern long-eared bat, Roanoke logperch (fish), and Candy darter (fish). FWS found that “individuals were not likely to experience reductions in reproductive success or survival likelihood,” meaning that “fitness consequences for the species rangewide” would also not be expected.

Following Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval and pending receipt of necessary permits, Mountain Valley is targeting the resumption of construction on the 2-bcfd pipeline in second-quarter 2023 and completing construction, including final right-of-way restoration, by end 2023. Equitrans last year received a 4-year extension from FERC—to Oct. 13, 2026—to put MVP in service (OGJ Online, Sept. 5, 2022).

As of December 2022, MVP had completed construction of 272 miles, with about 169 miles fully restored. An estimated 56% of the alignment is permanently restored and the remaining 44% is temporarily stabilized.

MVP will cross 17 counties within West Virginia and Virginia, beginning at an interconnection with Equitrans’ existing H-302 pipeline at the Mobley interconnect and tap in Wetzel County, W. Va., and running to Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Co.’s existing Compressor Station 165 in Pittsylvania County, Va. Additional components include three new compressor stations, four meter and regulation stations (i.e., interconnects), three taps, eight pig launchers and receivers at five locations, 36 new mainline valves, and 31 cathodic protection beds.