Richmond, VA — Today, despite mass grassroots opposition, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Water Board narrowly awarded the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) a critical water permit, by a margin of 3-2. The fate of the massive fracked gas pipeline will now rest with Biden’s federal agencies. Biden’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Army Corps of Engineers will have the final say on the project, with decisions expected from these agencies in early 2022.

Food & Water Watch Southern Region Director Jorge Aguilar issued the following statement:

“Mountain Valley Pipeline offers a critical opportunity for President Biden’s administration. Where Virginia state agencies and our Governor have abdicated responsibility to protect Virginians from the destruction and pollution of this massive fracked gas project, the federal government must now act. Leadership on climate change simply cannot include the Mountain Valley Pipeline. We call on President Biden to direct his federal agencies to deny the Mountain Valley Pipeline its required permits.”

Contact: Phoebe Galt, [email protected]