Virginia orders Mountain Valley Pipeline to stop work over water control issues
Virginia regulators ordered Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC to halt construction activities on a section of the 2-Bcf/d natural gas pipeline project, warning of "imminent and substantial adverse impact" on water quality in the area if work continues. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality found that Mountain Valley failed to provide and ensure the proper function of erosion and sediment controls according to site-specific plans on a roughly two-mile section of the project in Montgomery County, Va., according to a stop-work order issued Aug. 2.
SoCalGas asks CPUC to pause safety probe over Aliso Canyon cancer 'conflict'
Southern California Gas Co. has asked California regulators to delay a probe of the utility's safety culture in the wake of the Aliso Canyon underground gas storage facility leak. The utility is arguing that the cancer-stricken lead investigator into the incident should first be scrutinized for conflict of interest after he filed a personal injury lawsuit against the company.
15 states ask Supreme Court to review decision delaying Atlantic Coast pipe
West Virginia and a coalition of other states urged the U.S. Supreme Court to review and overturn a decision that stopped construction on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, contending that delayed construction would cost the state jobs. In the July 29 brief, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and 15 co-signers disputed a federal appeals court ruling that stated the U.S. Forest Service did not have authority to grant the pipeline a right-of-way through forestland beneath the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Ore. governor signs renewable natural gas bill into law
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on July 31 signed into law a bill that allows natural gas utilities to procure renewable natural gas on behalf of their customers in the state. Senate Bill 98 establishes voluntary statewide goals for utilities to use 15% renewable natural gas in the state's pipeline system by 2030, 20% by 2035 and 30% by 2050, according to a July 31 news release from Northwest Natural Gas Co., one of the proponents of the bill.
Report: Colorado proposes new oil, gas industry measures to cut emissions
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on July 29 proposed new regulations aimed at curbing emissions from the oil and gas industry, The Denver Post reported the same day. Garry Kaufman, director of the state's air pollution control division, unveiled the proposal at the first of four public meetings prior to formal Air Quality Control Commission hearings later this year, according to the report.
