As MVP Nears Completion, Some Residents Say Their Concerns For Safety and Pollution Are Being Ignored

Image of muddy spilloff from the MVP

Roxy Todd/Radio IQ. Photo from early February, where a spring was filled with muddy water. Several weeks later, the spring began running clear again.

The company building the Mountain Valley Pipeline, Equitrans Midstream Corporation, announced Monday they are merging with EQT, the company that originally created that spin-off company, and says they’re still on track to begin running gas through the pipeline by June. But some residents along the route in Virginia worry their concerns about pollution and safety aren’t being heard.

Since January 1st, there have been 42 citizen reports citing alleged pollution along the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia. Radio IQ interviewed several people who filed complaints with the Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ.

“DEQ tends to come after the fact, And they’ll say, ‘well it looks ok,'” said Kathy Chandler, whose property in Roanoke County is crossed by the MVP. “It’s been frustrating to say the least.”

“After we file pollution incident reports to DEQ, none of us ever hear back from anyone within these regulatory agencies,” said Kellie Ferguson, who lives in Giles County and is a community organizer with a group called Protect Our Water Heritage Rights (POWHR).

A spokesperson with DEQ, Irina Calos, said the agency promptly investigates all reports, and in all of these 42 cases, inspectors found no evidence MVP had violated any laws. Calos said some temporary sediment and mud may occur from heavy construction.

This doesn’t give Donna Pitt reassurance that her community of Giles County is safe from long-term effects of this pipeline. 03-12-24

Read more

image_printPrint page