FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2025
CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (276) 289-1018, dan@appvoices.org
Washington, D.C. — On March 11, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission closed an intervention period in the federal docket for the proposed Southgate pipeline project. Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, the developer of the Southgate pipeline, is seeking approval to dramatically alter its original 2018 design, changing the route and increasing the pipe diameter and capacity for the project. Although community members asked for more time for review, only a 21-day intervention period was offered.
During that brief period, over 12,500 members of the public weighed in, including community leaders, grassroots groups and organizations. Petitions were submitted by the Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices, Chesapeake Climate Action Network and West Virginia Rivers Coalition, the Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights Coalition led an organizational sign on letter with 73 organizations. In addition, 19 Virginia legislators voiced opposition to the amendment. The vast majority of commenters, more than 80 percent, asked FERC to deny MVP Southgate’s request.
In 2023, MVP received a three-year extension to its FERC certificate for Southgate, but the new design includes changing the route to 31 miles, increasing the pipe diameter to 30 inches, and increasing the capacity nearly 50 percent to 550,000 dekatherms (550 million cubic feet) per day.
First announced in 2018 and granted its original Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity by FERC in 2020, the Southgate project, much like the mainline Mountain Valley Pipeline, has been plagued with problems from the beginning. Construction never began as the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality twice denied MVP Southgate a crucial water quality permit and the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board denied a critical air permit for Southgate’s proposed Lambert Compressor Station in Virginia in 2021, due to environmental justice concerns.
Caroline Hansley, Sierra Club Campaign Organizing Strategist, said: “The people have spoken loud and clear — we do not want the proposed Southgate pipeline. From Virginia to North Carolina, everyday people have stood together in solidarity against this dangerous and unnecessary project that only serves corporate interests. It’s time FERC listens.”
Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, said: “Southgate should not be resurrected, but if this significantly altered, essentially brand new project moves forward, it should require a new certificate and new scrutiny from FERC. The amendment for this significantly altered project should be denied.”
