RICHMOND (December 15, 2017) – Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) received key regulatory approval from the Virginia (VA) Water Control Board.

The Board reviewed and approved MVP on December 7. With a vote of 5-2, the roughly 300-mile long natural gas pipeline moves closer to ground-breaking.

MVP owners include EQT Midstream Partners, NextEra Energy, Inc., Consolidated Edison, Inc., WGL Holdings, Inc., and RGC Resources Inc. under the name Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC.

On December 12, the Board approved ACP, the larger of the two pipelines at 600 miles in length, contingent upon additional environmental filings with a vote of 4-3.

Four U.S. Energy Companies represent Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC: Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Southern Company Gas.

“We have always said that pipelines are lifelines for working families,” said Dennis Martire, Vice President and Regional Manager of LIUNA Mid-Atlantic. “These projects will provide thousands of laborers with a living wage and benefits, and as a result, local communities along the pipeline route will have access to middle class careers.”

LIUNA represents pipeliners who perform the following tasks: installs environmental control devices, performs ground clearing, coats and installs the pipe, and restores the right of way.

“Despite delays from opposition who lack a clean, realistic energy plan, pipelines continue receiving approval because they are a source of good jobs, the safest method of transporting gas, and provide affordable energy to communities,” said Martire.

The Board is one of three regulatory boards of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Board members are VA residents chosen by the Governor.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will regulate both pipelines, and approved them for following safety standards in October 2017.

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The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Region represents more than 40,000 working men and women who work in construction and public service in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina.