A very engaged U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard on February 24 arguments for and against overturning the Fourth Circuit Court Appeals’ December 13, 2018 decision to vacate the U.S. Forest Service (NFS)permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). After the
Environment, Renewables Top List of Concerns in New Utility Survey
The seventh annual survey on the State of the Electric Utility was published this week by Utility Dive, an on-line utility industry publication. It concludes that renewables and sustainability are the top issues for utilities, but notes that there is
Hearing on Proposed NEPA Changes Receives Strong Opposition
A February 25 public hearing on changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) elicited strong opposition from many witnesses, as well as protests outside of the hearing room by environmental activists and at least one Member of Congress, Sen.
Proposed MVP Extension Clears Environmental Review by FERC
The Southgate Project, a proposed extension of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) into North Carolina, has received a favorable environmental review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The project, initiated in a filing with FERC in May 2018, would
Information About the Supreme Court Argument of the Cowpasture Case
The U.S. Supreme Court argument of the Cowpasture River Preservation Association v. Forest Service will take place on Monday, February 24 at 10 am. One-hour is scheduled for the case; another case is scheduled to be heard by the Court
Virginia DEQ Launches Environmental Justice Study
An effort to develoop recommendations for incorporation environmental justice principles into the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) programs and actions, announced last September by the agency, will soon begin interviewing environmental justice stakeholders, non-government organizations, local govrnment offiicials and
Federal Court Rebuffs FWS Over Classification of Northern Long-Eared Bat
The 2015 listing of the northern long-eared bat as “threatened” rather than “endangered” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has been rejected by U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The January 28 decision by the Court,
FERC Restarts New Fish and Wildlife Permit Process for ACP
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has requested in a February 10 letter that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) reinitiate formal consultation with Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC (ACP, LLC) to develop a new Biological Opinion (BO) and Incidental
Army Corps Warned Not to Issue New Permit for ACP
The Norfolk District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has been told that it would violate legal requirements should it reinstate the suspended verification for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) using the Corps’ Nationwide 12 Permit (NWP12). The
VA Pipeline Bills Clear Committee, Head for House Floor; Action Needed! Now!
Three bills designed to tighten up state regulation of pipelines cleared the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee of the Virginia House of Delegates on February 5. The measures now head to the House floor and they must be acted