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Wednesday, 08 January 2020 21:39

4th Circuit nixes key permit for Dominion's Atlantic Coast Pipeline, citing environmental justice concerns

Written by Robert Walton | Utility Dive
4th Circuit nixes key permit for Dominion's Atlantic Coast Pipeline, citing environmental justice concerns DepositPhotos

Dominion maintains the $7.5-billion pipeline is "needed now more than ever" for economic growth and to reduce carbon emissions, but the court called out regulators for failing to adequately consider the impacts on local populations.

The Fourth Circuit concluded Virginia regulators relied too heavily on air quality standards, leading it to dismiss issues of environmental justice and the impact on nearby communities.

"Even if all pollutants within the county remain below state and national air quality standards, the board failed to grapple with the likelihood that those living closest to the compressor station ... will be affected more than those living in other parts of the same county," the 47-page decision finds.

Link to full article on Utility Dive

Read 10580 times Last modified on Wednesday, 08 January 2020 21:46

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