CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water and Waste Management issuing a needed water quality certification Tuesday for a proposed natural gas pipeline project.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline project would transport natural gas from Wetzel County to Pittsylvania County, Virginia using a 300-mile pipeline. The project is part of efforts to serve electricity needs in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.
The project’s owners plan to spend $811 million of its $3.5 billion cost in West Virginia. According to Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC, the pipeline would create 4,200 to 4,500 jobs in the state.
Granting the project a State 401 Water Quality Certification came after public hearings in Webster Springs, Hinton and Clarksburg. According to the department, around 100 people attended the meetings to ask questions and express support and concern.
A State Water Quality Certification is required for a project that proposes to fill or affect state waters. The purchase of stream and wetland credits is required for the project.
The department said the State Oil and Gas General Water Pollution Control Permit and Natural Streams Preservation Act Permit are still under review.