East Coast Natural Gas Pipeline Clears Important Regulatory Hurdle On Path To Delivering Cleaner, More Affordable Energy

According to the Metals Service Center Institute’s partners at the Energy Equipment Infrastructure Alliance (EEIA), the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a 600-mile, $5 billion project that will carry Marcellus/Utica gas from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina, cleared an important regulatory hurdle last week.

After two days of hearings in Richmond, Va., the state Department of Environmental Quality approved the project’s draft water quality certification for erosion control during construction. EEIA President Toby Mack testified in support of the project. Mack said, “[W]ith over 2,000 miles of existing gas pipelines currently constructed within karst [porous limestone] terrain in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia, it has been demonstrated that pipeline construction can be safely accomplished in karst terrain. The contractors and suppliers involved with this project are prominent among the builders of that network, and have the experience and expertise that will add to that success record.”

As EEIA has made clear, this pipeline will deliver lower cost, clean and safe natural gas to East Coast businesses and will create jobs all along the energy supply chain.