WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave Dominion Energy approval Thursday to construct pipe yards in both Upshur County, West Virginia and Halifax County, North Carolina, in anticipation of the construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
According to a company spokesman, the Upshur County site is located off of U.S. Route 33 approximately one mile up Brushy Fork. Plans are for a fairly large operation there.
FERC’s approval of the ‘yards’ comes after a targeted filing made by Dominion earlier this week. Additional targeted filings are expected in the weeks ahead as the company gets closer to making its request to start construction on the 600-mile natural gas pipeline from West Virginia through Virginia and into southeastern North Carolina.
Dominion is still waiting on its water certification permit from the State of Virginia. West Virginia and North Carolina regulators have already approved similar permits.
Dominion will make its request to start construction with FERC in two filings. It hopes the first phase of work can begin later this year.
Atlantic Coast Pipeline asked for an extension for tree felling late last month but was denied by FERC.
The pipeline would start in Harrison County and proceed across Lewis, Upshur, Randolph and Pocahontas counties in West Virginia before heading into Virginia and then into North Carolina.