Let WVDEP Know You Want Them to Hold the MVP Accountable for Water Pollution

Loading....

Let WVDEP Know You Want Them to Hold the MVP Accountable for Water Pollution

A volunteer monitor documents MVP erosion control deficiencies resulting in a DEP Violation in Braxton County.

Through March 13, you can make your voice heard on Mountain Valley Pipeline's recent water quality violations.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), a 303-mile project cutting through Wetzel, Harrison, Doddridge, Lewis, Braxton, Webster, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Summers, and Monroe Counties, was recently f ined approximately $303,000 by WVDEP. The proposed agreement for the fine is now open for public comment. Comments are due March 13.

The MVP’s fine accounts for 29 of the violations WVDEP issued the company since February of 2019. The WVDEP cited MVP repeatedly for failing to implement and maintain sediment controls, which allowed sediment and muddy water to pollute 13 streams and wetlands. View the consent order.

MVP’s fine for their water quality violations should account for their repeated disregard for environmental laws and the severity of the impacts on our streams and wetlands.

Contact WVDEP, tell them to hold MVP accountable for their water quality violations. Request the penalty be increased to account for the severity of impacts and MVP’s repeated negligence and disregard of environmental laws.

Fill out this form to contact your legislators. We encourage you to customize your letter for a more meaningful message.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Address, line 1*

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Take Action

Organization Name
Org Address Line 1
Org City, Org State Org Zip

Get in touch! Org Email or Org Phone

WVDEP

Subject: Comments Related to Consent Order 9925

Message:

I am commenting to request an increase in the penalty for Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Consent Order 9925. The $303,706 fine DEP issued to Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is not sufficient to hold the company accountable for the damage they have done to our streams and wetlands nor will it deter the company from future noncompliance. In fact, MVP has a history of noncompliance. This is the second time DEP has fined MVP for their blatant disregard for environmental regulations. DEP previously issued Consent Order 8951 in September of 2019 and fined MVP $266,000. DEP has the authority to increase the penalty for their history of noncompliance by 10% for each Notice of Violation (NOV) up to 100%. MVP’s noncompliance history includes 55 violations. However, their base penalty was only increased 25% for the previous Order. With their excessive NOVs, I urge DEP to penalize MVP to the maximum extent possible and increase the penalty 100%. The investigative costs DEP added to the base penalty is not nearly enough. $2,801 for 29 violations equates to less than $100 per violation. That doesn’t even account for the personnel costs, and mileage and gas for state vehicles. DEP must increase investigative costs in the penalty to adequately account for the numerous hours that DEP inspectors have dedicated to overseeing the project as well as the multiple follow-up inspections necessary to ensure that the company had resolved their erosion control violations. MVP’s negligent construction practices impacted 13 streams and wetlands resulting in sediment or sediment laden water entering the streams. DEP cited MVP 8 times for causing conditions not allowable in state waters. The water quality impacts to streams should not be tolerated and should receive the highest penalty! However, in the penalty calculation DEP rated the potential for harm factors as minor. How can violating water quality standards be considered a minor potential for harm? I urge DEP to calculate the penalty so that all water quality violations are rated as major for the Potential for Harm Factors. Thank you for taking these comments into consideration.

Remaining:

Organization Name
Org Address Line 1
Org City, Org State Org Zip

Get in touch! Org Email or Org Phone

Let WVDEP Know You Want Them to Hold the MVP Accountable for Water Pollution

Sorry, we're not targeting any representatives in your district. But, you can still help!

The comment period for this document is now closed. But, you can still help!

Let WVDEP Know You Want Them to Hold the MVP Accountable for Water Pollution

Sorry, we're not targeting any representatives in your district. But, you can still help!

The comment period for this document is now closed. But, you can still help!

Your messages have been sent!