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Supreme Court Ruling Reinstates 303-Mile Natural Gas Pipeline Construction

[b]Supreme Court Ruling Reinstates 303-Mile Natural Gas Pipeline Construction, Dealing Blow to Climate Change Activists[/b]

[b]Mountain Valley Pipeline (Source: Natural Gas Intelligence)[/b]

In a victory for the fossil fuel industry and a setback for environmental activists, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that construction of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) could resume.

This move effectively nullified the July 10 stay orders issued by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of plaintiffs Wilderness Society and Appalachian Voices, environmental activists that had instigated legal proceedings to halt the pipeline.

“The Wilderness Society and SELC allege violations of multiple environmental laws in connection with defective approvals by the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management allowing the MVP to cross the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia and West Virginia,” according to the group’s news release.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suspended construction of the 303-mile pipeline that is almost 95% complete, despite legislative and executive support of the project with the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, according to West Virginia Records.

Following the 4th Circuit ruling, the pipeline’s developers filed an emergency intervention request with Chief Justice John Roberts. This request was seen as a critical step to counter the appellate court’s decision, which was viewed by many in the industry as an overreach.

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Political leaders immediately responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a lower court ruling on the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline’s development.

“Today, the Supreme Court ended a campaign by activist judges to block good energy laws passed by Congress and signed by the President. This is a huge victory for American energy independence,” said Rep. Matt Rosendale

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Tetsuya · 51-55, M

while I might applaud a good infrastructure project, that's not what this is
the route they've chosen is through some pristine untouched wilderness
it pristine because the terrain is ridiculously steep
it is also being built on spec that there "might" be a demand in the areas its crossing through
you know the poorest sections of VA and WV
then there is the piping itself they've let sit outside in storage yards, the coating on them is now toxic from the extended UV exposure
the list goes on of the fucked up shit they've allowed to go on with this project
How do I know these things you may ask;
I live in VA, I personally know people who live out in the area, I've read the articles written in the local papers out there, I also work for a fairly large Civil Engineering firm - I hear things, I've also worked at Dominion power - again you hear things.

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya [quote]I hear things[/quote]

And now you've heard common sense.

You complain about the pipeline (which is nearly complete) is in wilderness.
Should it have been built in populated areas? Down residential streets? Through industrial parks?

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick
[quote]And now you've heard common sense.[/quote]
where?
[quote]
You complain about the pipeline (which is nearly complete) is in wilderness.[/quote]

my "complaint" would be about how the project was managed not that it exists
I am pointing out this is a mismanaged clusterfuck and nothing to be celebrated

[quote]Should it have been built in populated areas? Down residential streets? Through industrial parks?[/quote]
Yes. No. Yes.
Where do you think gasline projects are supposed to go to?

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya [quote]my "complaint" would be about how the project was managed not that it exists[/quote]

Then you agree with court ruling - which is what this post is about.

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick I agree it should continue, but it needs a better route and the expired piping should not go into the ground.
To me personally the second issue is the bigger one, long term it will ruin the local aquifers.

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya [quote] piping should not go into the ground.[/quote]

Photo below shows actual pipeline - above ground.
I know you hear things - do you see things too?

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick the vast majority of it is going underground.
https://www.mountainvalleypipeline.info/overview/
[quote]The MVP team has worked diligently with stakeholders, including landowners, community members, local officials, and state and federal agencies, to identify the best possible route for the proposed 303-mile underground pipeline. [/quote]
how familiar are you with this project?
have you ever worked for an engineering firm or power company?

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick secondly the pic finally showed, that is pipe that has not been buried yet
you can see along the treeline how far they've gone down
they are going to backfill all of that up to the previous level and grade the slope back to where it was originally

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya Sorry - looks like you are right - it will be buried for the most part.
What's the problem with that?

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick the main problem is the protective coating on the pipes themselves
its not supposed to sit out in the sun for more than six months, UV breaks it down into some toxic stuff
not a problem if you are putting 10ft of soil over it within that 6 month window
in many storage yards it been sitting exposed to the elements for years at this point with all the litigation
there is also some that has been properly stored in warehouses probably
so with the stop and go work orders, every time they get the go ahead they rush ahead at breakneck speed

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya Reasonable.
If government would just leave them alone - especially after government approved the project initially.

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick a believe the term is "boondoggle"

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya Regaining even a tiny part of energy independence is not a boondoggle.

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick looking up the definition I guess you are right since it is necessary which negsates the term

so upon further research the more accurate term would be "clusterfuck"

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya Regaining even a tiny part of energy independence is not a clusterfuck

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Tetsuya No infrastructure project is good.

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Tetsuya Seems you have set yourself up to be both the target and main action character of your little fantasy.

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

@Budwick

SW-User

@Budwick we never have been energy independent…Despite what djt said..

As a planet we are so dependent on a wasting asset
..that being fossil fuels..

Humans will learn in the next 100 years , if not sooner, that the previous generations have pissed away what can never be recreated.

Electric cars are a fools errand..
We are all screwed.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@SW-User I am sure we will find a way out including culling the old and the sick and the stupid.

Tetsuya · 51-55, M

[quote]@SW-User
As a planet we are so dependent on a wasting asset
..that being fossil fuels..
[/quote]

if you call keeping warm, creating power, being able to to transport yourself and goods, growing larger yields of crops, and creating various materials we depend on a waste then sure, I personally see it as using an asset we have to the fullest.

[quote]Electric cars are a fools errand..[/quote]
this I agree with

SW-User

@Tetsuya it is great now…not so, in the future.

Bye