A federal agency has told the builder of the Mountain Valley Pipeline that the pipe used in the project’s construction must be treated to resist corrosion.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has notified Equitrans Midstream that it’s required to repair or replace damaged sections of pipe.
As the $6.6 billion, 300-mile natural gas pipeline has been caught in a series of legal challenges, large sections of pipe have been left exposed to the elements.
Exposure to sunlight degrades the protective coating on the pipe that prevents corrosion.
The pipeline’s opponents have been calling on Equitrans Midstream to address the issue.
A federal appeals court last week dismissed two lawsuits against the project, eliminating a significant legal barrier to its completion but dealing a setback to its opponents.