(The Center Square) – Mountain Valley Pipeline is urging federal regulators to continue reviewing its proposed Swann Compressor Station in Montgomery County after Virginia halted processing of the project’s state air permit.
The proposed compressor station would be built along the existing Mountain Valley Pipeline in Elliston and is designed to maintain natural gas pressure as fuel moves through the interstate pipeline system. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees approval of the project, while the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for the project’s air permit.
In a filing submitted for federal oversight late last week, Mountain Valley asked the commission to continue its environmental review and reject requests to delay the process while the state permitting issue is resolved.
The filing follows a June decision by state oversight to stop processing the air permit after determining it lacked sufficient information to evaluate the application under Virginia law.
DEQ’s decision stemmed from what the agency described as an apparent contradiction in actions taken by Montgomery County.
In October, the county certified to DEQ that the proposed compressor station was suitable for the area and consistent with applicable local ordinances. Two months later, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution opposing the project, citing concerns about emergency access, environmental impacts and the proposed location.
The resolution also urged FERC to prepare a full environmental impact statement before deciding whether to approve the project.
After asking the county to explain the difference, DEQ received a response stating that federal law gives FERC exclusive authority over siting interstate natural gas facilities and that the county’s resolution was intended to provide comments to FERC rather than reverse its earlier certification. DEQ ultimately concluded it still lacked enough information to continue reviewing the permit and suspended the process.
Mountain Valley says the county’s certification and later resolution are not inconsistent and should not delay the federal review.
The company said concerns about blocked railroad crossings on Cove Hollow Road reflect a longstanding issue that predates the proposed compressor station. According to the filing, the project would not worsen emergency access, and Mountain Valley is working with Montgomery County on plans to improve access in the area.
The filing also disputes claims that the project poses significant public health risks. Mountain Valley said air quality modeling submitted with its application shows emissions would remain below applicable federal standards and that a health assessment found the proposed compressor station is not expected to create significant cancer or chronic health risks for nearby residents.
Mountain Valley also urged FERC to deny a request from project opponent Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights to delay the commission’s environmental review until the state air permit process is completed. The company said it has already provided extensive environmental and technical information to federal regulators and that postponing the review would unnecessarily delay the project.
Tuesday morning, DEQ’s review of the state air permit remains suspended while FERC continues its review of the proposed compressor station.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Mountain Valley Pipeline.
