Weekly Update

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Water Resources (DWR) has reaffirmed DWR's previous denial of Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Southgate Project's request for a Clean Water Act 401 Water Quality Certification. DEQ first denied the request in August 2020. On MVP's appeal of the decision, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the DEQ had not adequately explained its decision and vacated the agency's denial.

NCDEQ Reissues Denial for MVP WQ 401 Certification

In a letter to Senate Appropriations Chair, Patrick Leahy, Acting Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young outlined President Biden's discretionary funding request for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The administration's $1.5 trillion spending plan is only one element of the Administration's broader agenda. The President plans to release a comprehensive budget that would include mandatory spending for Social Security and Medicare later this Spring. Mandatory spending is outside the annual budget process that governs discretionary spending.

OMB Sends Biden’s $1.5T Budget Plan to Congress

In a press release on Wednesday, April 8, 2021, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan directed all EPA offices to clearly integrate environmental justice (EJ) considerations into their plans and actions. The directive comes in response to President Biden's January 20 Executive Order to advance racial equity and support underserved communities through the Federal Government.

Regan Directs Agency to Integrate EJ in Plans and Actions