6:00: Morning News

Morrisey stresses importance of Atlantic Coast Pipeline ahead of oral arguments

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, union laborers and other state officials are speaking out about the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in advance of oral arguments in a case to overturn its blocked construction.

Morrisey held a press conference on Thursday at the state Capitol with dozens of workers to speak on why he thinks the U.S. Supreme Court must overturn the ruling by a circuit court of appeals.

West Virginia isĀ part of the 18-state coalition in arguing the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia was inaccurate in ruling the U.S. Forest Service lacked authority to grant the rights-of-way through forestland beneath federal trails.

In December 2018, the court halted the development of the 605-mile natural gas pipeline that would go from West Virginia to North Carolina.

Patrick Morrisey

“If you set a precedent that you can’t put a pipeline, even if its buried 600 feet under federal land, you’re going to bring to halt so much economic development in our country,” Morrisey said on Thursday.

Morrisey focused much of the press conference on the economic effect in communities of having the pipeline shut down.

The pipeline, if it’s completed, would transport natural gas through Harrison, Lewis, Upshur, Randolph and Pocahontas counties en route to Virginia and North Carolina.

Tax revenues in those counties are losing a combined $400 million a year, according to Morrisey. He said those counties depend on that to support other ventures in public safety and fighting the opioid epidemic.

“A lot of the counties sometimes lack the ability to hire a deputy sheriff or a first responder, or someone else to work out there to help protect our people,” Morrisey said.

WATCH: Morrisey’s press conference with workers

A release from Morrisey’s office stated that the halting of pipeline construction has put around 1,500 people out of jobs including laborers making between $25 to $40 per hour plus per diem.

“These are good jobs. Solid jobs where you can help feed your family. That matters in West Virginia,” Morrisey said.

“It’s about your families. It’s about making sure you can feed them and take care of them. I am here to do the same with the West Virginia attorney general’s office. I feel good about our arguments and it means a lot that everyone has stepped up to do the hard work.”

Ed Gaunch, state Secretary of Commerce, echoed a similar statement. He said this is much more than just the halt of a pipeline.

Ed Gaunch

“This is about so much more than a legal decision,” he said. “This is about so much more than labor, management, legislators, Democrat or Republican,” he said.

“This is about the future of not only West Virginia but the future of this country.”

Morrisey helped write the brief to challenge the ruling in December.

Multiple environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Cowpasture River Preservation and the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, filed a brief in August supporting the circuit court ruling.

David Butterworth, a Business Agent Pipeliners Local 798 spoke on Thursday representing the workers. He said they have worked hard to get the jobs through the state and now they are all gone.

“It was tough to get these jobs manned but we got it done,” Butterworth said. “Here we are, we are working and everything is good, and the rug gets jerked out from under us.

“Now I don’t have enough work for my people, up here in this part of the world.”

Oral arguments are set for Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court.





More News

News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm
News
Justice vetoes vaccination exemption bill, draws praise from healthcare groups
Educational and healthcare organizations banded together to urge a veto.
March 27, 2024 - 6:35 pm
News
Testimony wraps up in attempt to remove 2 Jefferson County commissioners from office
Three-judge panel hears 2 days of testimony.
March 27, 2024 - 5:11 pm