US Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project Today

Back in October 2019 the US Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit concerning the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project.  Dominion Energy and Duke Energy are partners in the 600-mile natural gas pipeline project that will extend from West Virginia through Virginia and southward along the I-95 corridor in North Carolina to Robeson County near the South Carolina border.

The pipeline project has met considerable opposition from environmental groups and some landowners along the pipeline route, especially in West Virginia and Western Virginia.

Today’s Supreme Court hearing centers on whether the US Forest Service had the authority to issue a permit for the pipeline to cross the Appalachian Trail.  The Fourth Circuit ruled that the Forest Service did not have such authority.  A final ruling by the Supreme Court is expected this summer.

A overview of the project may be found HERE .

An update on the progress of the pipeline project may be found HERE .

An op ed piece in yesterday’s New York Times offers a good view to what opponents are saying about the project.  You may view a copy of the op ed piece HERE .