Mountain Valley Pipeline gets key green-light decision, pleasing Sen. Joe Manchin, but more court action is in store

Pipes for the Mountain Valley Pipeline on Brush Mountain near
Blacksburg, Va. (Photo by Melissa Golden, The New York Times)

The Biden administration has again "granted a crucial permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a project championed by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia," reports Lisa Friedman of The New York Times. The Forest Service's decision would allow the pipeline "to run through 3.5 miles of Jefferson National Forest, which straddles West Virginia and Virginia." The pipeline is "intended to carry gas about 300 miles from the Marcellus shale fields in West Virginia across nearly 1,000 streams and wetlands before ending in Virginia. It also delivers a significant victory to Manchin, a Democrat who strongly supports fossil fuels and who faces a potentially difficult re-election campaign next year. . . . Some are interpreting the approval as the administration's attempt to placate Manchin, who in recent weeks has railed against what he calls the Biden administration's 'radical climate agenda.'"

The administration has been repositioning some environmental policies, which disappoint environmentalists and scientists, but the president is working to straddle several camps. Friedman reports, "Biden needs Manchin, as well as moderate Republicans, to achieve his goals. They are considered key to passing legislation that the White House says is critical for speeding the construction of new wind, solar and other renewable energy projects. . . . Biden has taken steps to bolster fossil fuels and placate centrists while also trying to deflect Republican criticism that his climate policies are harming American energy security. His administration approved the enormous Willow oil project in Alaska and increased exports of liquefied natural gas from Alaska. Both projects were supported by Manchin and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who is also an important swing vote for  Biden."

While the permitting decision is important, "The Mountain Valley Pipeline is not a done deal" because of court action, Friedman notes. A lawsuit is challenging the Fish and Wildlife Service's decision in favor of the pipeline," and more suits are expected. Also, "The Bureau of Land Management, which is responsible for approving pipelines that cross state lines, must decide whether to issue required permits."

Lawsuits warn of environmental damage. "Last year the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that the government's environmental reviews had 'inadequately' considered the impacts of erosion, among other issues. . . . The national forest is home to five protected species, including the endangered candy darter, a colorful freshwater fish, as well as old-growth forest. . . . Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator for Appalachian Voices, an environmental group that opposes the pipeline, said the Biden administration decision "'grossly underestimates the lasting environmental harms from the project.'"