Mountain Valley Pipeline secures West Virginia permit
Monday, June 19, 2023
The Mountain Valley Pipeline has moved one step closer to resuming construction since West Virginia regulators issued a new water permit, according to Reuters.
The partnership building the pipeline told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Monday that West Virginia issued a renewed Section 401 water quality certification for the project on June 8.
The Fourth Circuit has vacated several of the project’s federal and state permits — some more than once — and it is still hearing lawsuits by environmental and local groups opposed to the project.
Learn more: Reuters > Mountain Valley natural-gas pipeline closer to construction after West Virginia permit
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.