On June 14, B&D client Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) began its operations. MVP is a joint venture between Equitrans Midstream, NextEra Energy, Consolidated Edison, AltaGas, and RGC Resources. The 303-mile interstate natural gas pipeline will supply the underserved Southeast U.S. with natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale regions. B&D serves as MVP’s lead regulatory counsel on Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance and worked relentlessly with the client team, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to satisfy all applicable ESA requirements.

MVP is now part of a network of more than 300,000 miles of interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines that fuel modern America and the U.S. economy. The U.S. Energy Information Administration recognizes natural gas as the most affordable option for residential energy.

“This is an important and long-awaited day for our Nation and the millions of Americans who now have greater access to an abundant supply of domestic natural gas for use as an affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy resource,” said Diana Charletta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Equitrans Midstream Corp in MVP’s press release. “Natural gas is an essential fuel for modern life, and, as a critical infrastructure project, the Mountain Valley Pipeline will play an integral role in achieving a lower-carbon future while helping to ensure America’s energy and economic security for decades to come.”

The B&D team includes Principal Parker Moore (Washington, DC) and Associate Jonas Reagan (Washington, DC) with significant contributions from Principals Jamie Auslander, Dave Barker, Alex Horning, Hilary Jacobs, Alan Sachs, Allyn Stern, Timothy M. Sullivan, Mike Vitris, Of Counsel Barbara Marvin, and Associates Katrina Krebs and Leigh Barton; who all provided additional support for the project over the past six years.

B&D’s Infrastructure and Project Development and Permitting practice group helps clients in numerous industries achieve compliance with the ever-changing regulatory landscape, thereby reducing cost and risk to operations. B&D’s Endangered Species and Wildlife Protection practice group provides strategic counseling and compliance advice to project proponents in all industries to minimize the impacts of threatened and endangered species listings and critical habitat designations on our clients’ activities. For more information on this development, please contact the authors.