Curtis Tate Published

West Virginia’s Delegation Backs MVP In SCOTUS Briefs

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 2, 2023.J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

West Virginia’s entire congressional delegation has filed briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Republican Reps. Carol Miller and Alex Mooney joined a brief with other lawmakers in support of the project. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, submitted a separate brief.

The 300-mile natural gas pipeline is on hold again because the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked construction, siding with environmental groups and landowners.

They say the project threatens waterways and could cause soil erosion and methane leaks.

The pipeline’s builders have asked the Supreme Court to overrule the Fourth Circuit and requested a decision by July 27.

In a bill Congress passed last month, lawmakers required the approval of all outstanding federal permits for the project.