Attorneys for the EQT Corp.-led Mountain Valley pipeline asked a West Virginia county court to keep protesters from occupying trees along the route of the 2-Bcf/d natural gas transportation project as the developers prepare for tree felling and construction work, The Roanoke Times reported.
The lawyers asked the Monroe County Circuit Court in Monroe County, W.Va., on March 2 to issue a temporary restraining order against two protesters trying to delay construction activities at a point where the $3.7 billion pipeline would cross the Appalachian Trail in the Jefferson National Forest. The Times reported that the protesters have been sitting on wooden platforms in trees since Feb. 26.
The developers are concerned for the safety of employees and contractors as well as the safety of the protesters, EQT spokeswoman Natalie Cox said March 7. "While we respect the opinions of those who are opposed to the Mountain Valley pipeline project, we want to ensure everyone's safety throughout the various phases of the construction process."
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project in October 2017 and authorized construction work Jan. 22. The 300-mile pipeline would move gas from West Virginia to pipeline interconnections in Virginia. It is a joint project of EQT Midstream Partners LP, NextEra Energy Inc., RGC Resources Inc., WGL Holdings Inc. and Consolidated Edison Inc. (FERC docket CP16-10)
