MVP Schedule Threatened as Fourth Circuit Rulings Reignite Legal Battle Over Natural Gas Pipeline

Weeks after Congress appeared to remove its jurisdiction over the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has issued a pair of rulings blocking construction of the natural gas conduit.

Absent details or explanation, the Fourth Circuit on Monday granted a motion for stay filed by the Wilderness Society against the U.S. Forest Service and MVP, stopping project construction “during the pendency of this petition for review.” The court followed that up with another sparsely worded stay of the Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement issued to MVP by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.

The latter decision “nullifies” FERC’s recent order authorizing the restart of project construction until the...