1) Ongoing FERC review

Appalmad (Appalachian Mountain Advocates) continues to challenge the plethora of gas transmission pipelines currently proposed to criss-cross West Virginia and neighboring states.

Most recently Appalmad submitted comments to FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Agency) opposing the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) citing problems with the Affiliate Agreements and lack of market demand for the many pipelines proposed in an attempt to prevent the overbuild of these multiple pipelines.

Appalachian Mountain Advocates submits comments on behalf of Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, Allegheny Defense Project, Appalachian Voices, Augusta County Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Eight Rivers Council, Friends of the Lower Greenbrier, Highlanders for Responsible Development, Indian Creek Watershed Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Preserve Bent Mountain, Preserve Montgomery County Virginia, Protect Our water, heritage, Rights (POWHR), Shenandoah Valley Network, Sierra Club, Summers County Residents Against the Pipeline, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and Wild Virginia.

2) West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP)

WVDEP 401 Clean Water Act Certification of US Army Corps 404 permit to fill/impact streams was granted March 28th.

Unfortunately, although some of the restrictions and requirements imposed by WVDEP 401 Section certification are praiseworthy, the agency’s authority for oversight of on the ground activity is nearly non-existent and the enforcement authority merely after the fact.