MV Pipeline FERC Filing

Here are collected documents (over 200 pages) filed by the Mountain Valley Pipeline company (MVP) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Among these documents, you will find:

• Statement of "purpose & need" for the pipeline (p. 1-1)

• Detailed pipeline route and alternatives (various texts and maps)

• Discussion of geology, wetlands

• Pipe pressure specification of 1480 lbs./sq. in. (p. 1-5)

• Compressor station ("Swann") of 31,800 HP at mile 224 near Roanoke (p. 1-6)

• Mention of 113 to 154 river and stream crossings (depending upon route alternatives) (p. 10-5)

Notes

One notable feature seen on the maps is that the pipeline route very often lies on the ridgeline of mountains. MVP explains that the pipeline cannot ignore slope of terrain and simply follow a powerline route, but, rather, the pipeline path needs to approximate what we might call a “straight up and straight down” path when traversing mountainous terrain so as to avoid circumstances in which ground movement could push the pipeline sideways. This gives the construction a “mountaintop removal” quality because it calls for placing the route of the pipeline on ridges to go up a mountain, follow the crest and go back down on another ridge. The following MVP company quote notes the greater risk of laying a pipeline on slopes which are subject to soil movement (such as along mountainsides).

Quote from p. 10-4 (of the MVP collected documents linked above at top of page) regarding placement of pipeline in mountain terrain):

"Initial flight reconnaissance and ground check revealed that much of the route that followed existing overhead electric transmission line rights-of-way was along severe side slopes. While the overhead transmission lines span significant areas of slide slope, these areas would be required to be crossed directly by the pipeline. As a result of this next phase of route analysis, MVP determined that Route Alternative 1 represented insurmountable construction challenges, as well as a high risk of slope failure and pipeline slips, [emphasis added] once the pipeline was to be in operation."

Just a few examples of ridgeline placement of the pipeline route.

(Numbers are milepost marks. Images not oriented N-S.)