Environmental Groups Challenge Virginia Water Permit for Controversial MVP Southgate Pipeline

RICHMOND, Va.- Today, environmental groups filed a legal challenge to the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate extension's water permit in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality approved the methane pipeline's Virginia Water Protection Permiton Jan. 16, despite MVP's history of water quality violations and widespread opposition from impacted communities and homeowners over eight years. A recent publication from Wood Mackenzie foundwidespread vulnerability in the gas production infrastructure during the recent Winter Storm Fern. In the past, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board had denied a necessary permit for the proposed project. Members of Congressand 12 Virginia legislatorshave recently voiced strong opposition to the project.

In response, the Sierra Club, Wild Virginia, Appalachian Voices, and the Center for Biological Diversity released the following statements:

"By allowing this pipeline to move forward, the Virginia DEQ has placed the health of Virginia's waterways at risk," said Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist for the Sierra Club."MVP has proven it cannot be trusted to build pipelines without polluting nearby waterways. We cannot allow Virginia's rivers and creeks- and the communities downstream who rely on them- to be put at risk of pollution and destruction for the sake of risky, expensive, and unnecessary pipelines."

"The Virginia DEQ has again abdicated its responsibility to protect Virginia's waters and people," said David Sligh, Wild Virginia's Water Quality Program Director. "DEQ allowed the mainline MVP project to degrade hundreds of streams and wetlands and harm landowners along its path, throughout six years of construction and beyond. The evidence provided to DEQ shows that the same dire results can be expected for the Southgate project, but Virginia officials have chosen to close their eyes to the serious threats. We cannot accept this failure by those who are supposed to serve the public interest, not the interest of corporations proposing to harm our precious resources."

"The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has prioritized this destructive and dangerous pipeline over the safety and health of its own communities," said Will Harlan, Southeast Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "We're fighting this pipeline in court to prevent a major pollution risk to 138 streams and wetlands that provide homes to endangered wildlife and drinking water for communities across the region."

"MVP Southgate could have significant negative impacts on waterbodies, especially given its potential co-location with another high-pressure pipeline, the Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project," said Matt Allenbaugh, Virginia Campaign Coordinator at Appalachian Voices."The Virginia DEQ's decision to approve this permit has let down thousands of people who spoke out against this dangerous project. Nevertheless, we will continue the fight for communities and clean waterways in court."

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.