Department of Environmental Quality fines Mountain Valley Pipeline $34,000 for violations

NEWPORT, Va. (WDBJ) - The Department of Environmental Quality has fined the Mountain Valley Pipeline $34,000 for environmental violations during a yearly review of field inspections.

A DEQ report obtained by WDBJ7 lists dozens of violations.

They include impact to wetland as a result of improper installation, along with soil and rocks impacting a stream from blasting through the mountain. Both are major concerns for community members in the Newport area in Giles County.

“If this project is ever in service, it will generate that in seconds,” said Jamie Hale, a Newport resident.

It’s not the first fine leveled against the company, nor the largest. The DEQ also cited MVP $2.15 million in 2019 for a civil penalty agreement stating that the pipeline would have to abide by certain environmental rules for the state.

“It’s been hard to sit back and watch all the damage take place,” said Hale. “It’s really devastating to see what we knew would happen come to life,” said Denali Nalamalapu, another pipeline opposer.

A pipeline spokesperson told WDBJ7 in response to the fines, “These noted items did not result in any permanent impact and were quickly resolved, and full payment will be made without dispute.”