Pipe Safety

Pipe safety is one of the biggest concerns community members along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline currently have.

After the early 2000s fracking boom in Appalachia, the Mountain Valley Pipeline leaped at the opportunity to make money off of fossil fuel extraction in the region through a new fracked gas, large-diameter pipeline. In their hurry to get the project done, MVP left pipe laying out in the sun for as long as six years. MVP has not taken adequate care of the pipes, which, due to its impossible plan to traverse steep mountain slopes, puts nearby communities in mortal danger.

A pipe that ruptured on the back of a truck driving down the road.

A pipe that ruptured during standard water testing.

An aerial view of a construction site where there was recently a pipe explosion during hydrostatic testing, a standard water pressure test.

An explosion during standard water testing of the pipe.

Community members have been extremely frustrated with lack of action from state and federal agencies. Pipeline Safety Trust Executive Director Bill Caram said,

“PHMSA has been notoriously underfunded forever, and now there’s more and more pipelines being built and added to their regulatory authority. They just don’t have the staff to ensure operators are following the rules.”

Thanks to continued public pressure, on August 11, 2023, the federal government’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued the Mountain Valley Pipeline a proposed safety order due to pipe safety risks. Community members like Maury Johnson say it's a good start but it’s too late and too weak.

If you are concerned about pipe safety along the route and want to learn more, reach out to Mountain Valley Watch Coordinator Seferina Olivo (seferina@powhr.org).