Atlantic Coast Pipeline, blocked

On December 13, a panel of federal judges rejected permits to build the Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline — the ACP — across the George Washington and Monongahela national forests and the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Citing Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” the judges concluded that the Forest Service did not have the authority to grant approval for the ACP to cross under the Appalachian Trail, as the trail itself falls under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service and the Interior Department. “We trust the United States Forest Service to ‘speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues’,” the court admonished the agency, noting that the Forest Service had been concerned about the environmental impacts of the pipeline, but that they were “suddenly, and mysteriously assuaged in time to meet a private pipeline company’s deadlines.” The project is on hold for now. The 600-mile pipeline is intended to carry natural gas from West Virginia, through Virginia, to North Carolina. The $7 billion project is spearheaded by Dominion Energy.