USFWS Issues MVP a Biological Opinion

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued the Mountain Valley Pipeline a new Biological Opinion (BiOp) and Incidental Take Statement. The BiOp specifically states that five endangered or threatened species will not be jeopardized by the construction of the MVP. The BiOp indicates that other regulatory agencies may still need to assess this opinion.

Russell Chisholm, Managing Director of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights Coalition (POWHR) responded: 

“Here on the ground, our critters – particularly the endangered and threatened ones – are invaluable to our entire ecosystem. We are in the midst of an escalating climate crisis where it’ll get harder for human and non-human species to stay alive. Yet our regulatory agencies are allowing an unnecessary fracked gas pipeline to destroy our home for no reason other than satisfying corporate greed. This decision is shameful. It makes clear what we already know: we are the only ones that will protect our home, no matter what agencies claim their purpose is. We will protect our community, and we will stop the MVP.” 

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Press Contact: Denali Nalamalapu, (302) 307-6966‬, denali@powhr.org