The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued an updated review of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) that could pave the way for the 2 million Dth/d natural gas conduit to receive further permits and complete construction this year.

Mountain Valley Pipeline

However, even with the updated USFWS Biological Opinion, posted to the project’s FERC docket Wednesday, MVP remains vulnerable to further delays amid ongoing legal challenges to other permits, according to analysts.

The latest Biological Opinion, developed after an earlier approval in February 2022 was vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, is a “critical milestone” for MVP to meet federal Endangered Species Act requirements, analysts at ClearView Energy Partners LLC said in a recent research note.

The USFWS...