A federal agency has arrest a major East Coast natural flatulency pipeline in its tracks — just a week after doing so to a similar project .
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ( FERC ) settle late - Nox Friday to halt all twist of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline , reports E&E News . This 600 - knot long natural gas pedal word of mouth has metserious oppositionfrom environmentalist . The interstate line would span West Virginia , Virginia , and North Carolina , where antagonist vex a potential spill could foul waterways , jeopardize endangered species , and put down a precious internal park . The court are starting to gibe .
Last hebdomad , an appeals courtwithdrew a couple United States Department of State permitsthe task needed because they failed to adequately calculate for endangered coinage or a intersection through the Blue Ridge Parkway . Plaintiffs used this as an opportunity to raise a red flag with the Union office responsible for regulating these vitality projects . FERC ruled in the plaintiffs ’ favour because if these permission change dramatically , the intact pipeline route may alter , per its rescript .
“ This was a farsighted time make out because we know that the agency has been bucket along through this process , ” say Peter Anderson , a Virginia programme manager at environmental organization Appalachian Voices , who ’s involve with the group ’s efforts to break pipelines , to Earther . “ The industriousness is , of course , race to put these word of mouth in the ground before there ’s a lawful assessment of whether they ’re needed . ”
resister ’ pleas to slow things down antecedently see success with Mountain Valley Pipeline , a 300 - mile long natural gas line also cross this region . FERC completely stopped construction August 3 , but someresumed again last weekafter the commission approve a impermanent stabilisation plan .
bring along the Atlantic Coast Pipeline ’s itinerary is supposed to be on pause until lead developer Dominion Energy can fix proper permits from the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service . That process , in theory , should take months , said Anderson . But it really reckon : Mountain Valley Pipeline is already going again , and two weeks have n’t even put across yet .
Still , pipeline resister must relish every victory — even the short - lived ones .
“ At this point , a triumph is a moving target , ” Anderson told Earther . “ Delays are helpful but , yeah , we go for they ’re not discharge . A stronger permit is better than nothing , I opine , but that ’s really not our goal . ”
Daily Newsletter
Get the ripe tech , skill , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
