Response to DEQ issuance of a stop work order to Mountain Valley Pipeline

August 2, 2019

Contact:
Peter Anderson, Virginia Campaign Manager … 434-249-6446
Jamie Goodman, Senior Communications Coordinator … 828-719-9493

Statement by Appalachian Voices in response to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s issuance of a stop work order on the Mountain Valley Pipeline:

Today the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a stop work instruction to Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC for a 2-mile section of the pipeline construction spread, finding “insufficient erosion and sediment controls” and that an “an imminent and substantial adverse impact to water quality is likely to occur as a result of land-disturbing activities.” All work must stop in this section until corrective measures are put in place and approved by DEQ.

“This is an important and necessary action taken by DEQ. Since construction began in April 2018, citizen volunteers have vigilantly monitored the route and reported more than 600 potential violations on this dangerous and unnecessary pipeline. It is absolutely critical that DEQ exercise its enforcement authority when violations inevitably occur.” — Peter Anderson, Virginia Campaign Manager