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Atlantic Coast pipeline opponents ask FERC to reconsider construction approval

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Atlantic Coast pipeline opponents ask FERC to reconsider construction approval

Opponents of the Dominion Energy Inc.-led Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reconsider the 1.5-Bcf/d project's full construction authorization and to stay its authorization for work to proceed.

The coalition of environmental groups — Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club and the Virginia Wilderness Committee — argued in a June 11 FERC request for rehearing that the developers of the pipeline should be stripped of their authorization because they lack an incidental-take statement related to protected species.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit on May 15 vacated Dominion's incidental-take permit, issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, saying the agency failed to appropriately limit the authority granted by the permit. (U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit docket 18-1082)

Shortly after the permit's revocation, the environmental groups asked FERC to order a stop to Atlantic Coast's construction. In addition, the Southern Environmental Law Center and Appalachian Mountain Advocates on March 19 asked FERC to deny authorization for tree-felling activities related to Atlantic Coast.

The project, which would include about 600 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline, is a joint venture of Dominion, Duke Energy Corp. and Southern Co.'s Southern Co. Gas. FERC authorized the pipeline in an October 2017 certificate order. (FERC docket CP15-554)