A natural gas pipeline being built in West Virginia has been blocked once again by a federal appeals court siding with environmental groups despite Congress giving the project a green light, drawing the ire of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who accused the court of unlawful conduct.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of construction on July 10 while it evaluates the legality of permit approvals for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).
The court’s order stops construction on any part of the 304-mile pipeline route, which runs from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia.
The stay includes no explanation of the rationale behind the court’s decision, which remains in effect until a full ruling is made on the merits of the case….