DEQ reports ongoing restoration oversight for Mountain Valley Pipeline

DEQ staff updated the board on the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), reporting that the pipeline is in active service and that DEQ continues to oversee post‑construction restoration and erosion‑and‑sediment (E&S) controls.

DEQ said third‑party and agency inspections are frequent: between March 22 and June 18 the department investigated four complaints, performed 35 compliance inspections (plus 357 third‑party inspections), and issued 41 notices for corrective action; inspectors reported no outstanding stipulated penalties for Jan–Mar under the 2017 consent decree. Staff said the majority of lay‑down yards have been restored and that targeted areas use riprap, matting and reseeding. DEQ acknowledged erosion‑control challenges where temporary fabric layers have accumulated and noted that native species are being emphasized for long‑term stabilization, with reseeding plans that will take multiple growing seasons.

On landslide risk, staff noted that although earlier analyses suggested a large portion of the route is susceptible to slope failure, actual reported slips during the monitored period affected about three‑quarters of an acre and were mitigated with engineering buttressing. DEQ said inspections will continue and the agency assigned a new team lead for stormwater compliance to manage oversight.

Board members asked about species selection and germination timelines; DEQ noted it allows some non‑native erosion‑control cover crops where needed to stabilize soils while native vegetation establishes over several seasons.