WASHINGTON—West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin III has secured promises from Democratic leaders and the White House to complete a highly contested 304-mile gas pipeline in his state, he says. the office said. tax bill.
Mr. Manchin struck a surprise deal among Democrats last week to pass a landmark climate change bill, making it a requirement of the deal to loosen energy project permits. On Monday, his office released details of a side agreement signed with New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, Democratic Majority Leader, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and President Biden.
This ensures that federal agencies will “take all necessary steps to authorize the construction and operation” of the gas line known as the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The project has been opposed for years by environmentalists, civil rights activists, and many Democratic legislators in Virginia, but before it ended in Virginia, it was decided that Marsellus Shalefield in West Virginia would It carries natural gas across about 1,000 streams and wetlands.
The pipeline was originally scheduled to be completed by 2018, but environmental groups have successfully challenged a series of federal permits for the project in the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth District in Richmond, Virginia. did.
The court overturned permits issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Land Management and the Forest Service, saying the analysis of adverse effects on wildlife, sedimentation and erosion was flawed.
The delays are so widespread that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the project expires in October. The developer wants a second extension.
Jared Margolis, senior attorney for the Center for Biodiversity, one of the groups battling the pipeline, acknowledged that Congress has the ability to override the courts and move the project forward. But he said it “doesn’t prevent you from being challenged” by your opponents.
The side deal negotiated by Mr. Manchin and Democratic leaders would move the lawsuit from the successful Environmentalist District 4 and grant jurisdiction over all future legal challenges to the United States for the District of Columbia Circuit. It will be given to the Court of Appeal.
Another part of the agreement sets a two-year deadline for objections, making it difficult for opponents to defer energy projects under the underlying environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act. It also calls on the President to establish 25 “priority” projects on federal land that must include fossil fuels and nuclear energy. It also amends sections of the Clean Water Act in a way that makes it more difficult to block or delay pipeline projects.
Neither Schumer nor Pelosi responded to requests for comment. A White House spokesman also did not respond.
Some Democrats, such as Raul Grijalva, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, have said they do not support any action to expedite pipelines and other energy projects.
But Democratic leaders have inserted the Mountain Valley Pipeline and permit provisions into bills that must be passed, including bills that fund the federal government, according to three people familiar with the Manchin deal. and is likely to maximize that chance.
Manchin said on Monday that he believes the U.S. needs to reform its rules on permits to increase energy production.
“Why are we going around the world asking people what they want to do for us?” Manchin said. “How do we get a permitting process to address the challenges we face today and the urgency of not being able to do it because it is permitted?”
Environmentalists have denounced the Mountain Valley Pipeline and permit agreement and called on Democrats to reconsider the deal with Mr. Manchin.
Abigail Dillen, president of environmental group Earthjustice, said, “The impact of this side deal is very significant, especially as Congress stands poised to accelerate the development of energy projects. She will review and challenge projects. He said he was particularly concerned that developers could “troll the community” by limiting the amount of time they spend on the game.
Opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline called Mr. Manchin’s deal dangerous for water quality and the climate, noting that construction of the new pipeline would guarantee more greenhouse gas emissions in the future. The pipeline is expected to deliver over 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Notably, none of the environmental groups asked lawmakers to vote against the climate change and tax package. The package now includes $369 billion over 10 years to keep the country away from fossil fuels. Energy experts say that by the end of this decade, even with the relaxation of the permits Mr. Manchin set aside for fossil fuel development and other steps, the overall package would push emissions down to his We calculate that he will be cut by as much as 40% from 2005 levels.
Some say the permit agreement is a win for all energy development.
Former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Neil Chatterjee, said:
Chatterjee said that making it easier to obtain project permits could allow wind, solar and other renewable energy to be added to the grid more quickly.
Schumer has said he hopes to vote on broader climate change and tax legislation as early as this week.