FERC releases Environmental Assessment of Southgate’s plans to alter pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released an Environmental Assessmentfor the methane gas pipeline Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate, proposed for Virginia and North Carolina. The assessment claims to analyze the environmental impacts of the Mountain Valley Pipeline's amendment request to change the route, pipe diameter and capacity of the project. Southgate would extend the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, into Rockingham, North Carolina, and has faced significant opposition since it was originally proposed in 2018.

Project opponents contend a new application should be required, instead of an amendment, because the route, size and impact of this version of the project are different from the project for which FERC issued the original 2020 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

Adding to the significant concern about Southgate, the Williams Companies' expansion of their Transco pipelines, called the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, is undergoing a simultaneous permitting process, with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality undergoing a Clean Water 401 permit review through Nov. 10, and FERC expected to release an Environmental Assessment of the project in early November. The pipelines companies have bickered publicly about their access to the area and the need for both pipelines. Indeed, FERC's Environmental Analysis today concluded that the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project proposed by Transco could technically, practically and economically eliminate the need for the proposed Southgate project.The co-location of two high-pressure, large diameter pipelines is of significant concern for local residents.

With the release of the assessment, FERC has announced a 30-day comment period, closing on Nov. 3, with no public hearings for residents along the route. The lack of hearings and the limited comment period hinder meaningful public participation from those along the impacted route.

"Southgate necessitates a full application, not an insufficient amendment request and environmental assessment," said Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator at Appalachian Voices. "Southgate's developers inflicted harm on all communities within the path of their violation-riddled Mountain Valley Pipeline mainline, and should not be granted more permission to extend that harm into North Carolina."

"During MVP Mainline construction, the pipeline's developers were charged millions in fines for hundreds of violations," said Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, Co-Founder of 7 Directions of Service. "MVP's proposed extension of its pipeline into North Carolina - MVP Southgate - is now within half a mile of another dangerous proposed pipeline, Transco SSEP, and the burden on our communities will only be compounded. We deserve to be heard: FERC should extend the public comment period and reject MVP Southgate once and for all."

"North Carolinians have never wanted Southgate," said Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist with the Sierra Club. "The only ones who are pushing for this pipeline are the MVP developers who will make billions from polluting our communities' air and water while harming our health. FERC must deny this amendment and protect our communities."

"Never forget that MVP Southgate was defeated once already by frontline community members speaking out loudly against the proposed - and abandoned - Lambert Compressor station on environmental justicegrounds," said Russell Chisholm, Managing Director of the POWHR Coalition."It is long past time for FERC to listen to the testimonies of the people over the empty claims and promises of the gas profiteers."

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 https://www.sierraclub.org.

About Appalachian Voices

Appalachian Voices is a leading nonprofit advocate for a healthy environment and just economy in the Appalachian region, and a driving force in America's shift from fossil fuels to a clean energy future. For more information, visit https://www.appvoices.org.