The total project cost of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has ballooned to nearly $8 billion as project opponents urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject a May 23 in-service date requested by the joint venture behind the pipeline. The opponents cited filings showing persistent erosion issues and lack of compliance with a safety risk management consent order.
A federal court that has repeatedly thrown out key permit approvals for the Mountain Valley Pipeline cleared the way for its completion in a Friday ruling.
In 2018, United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued an opinion finding the court must resist any effort by lawmakers to “seize the judicial power” for themselves.
Congress passed a law designed to force completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline last month by circumventing legal challenges to the controversial project.