Pipeline opponents ask court to reject agreement between Virginia and MVP

A coalition of groups that oppose the

are asking a court to reject an agreement between the pipeline company and the Virginia Attorney General's Office.

Last Wednesday was the deadline for public comment on the the agreement that was negotiated to settle alleged violations of environmental laws.

Members of the POWHR coalition said the agreement ignores almost a year of violations, lacks adequate safeguards and fails to mitigate the damage effectively.

"What we would like to see is for the court to hear directly from impacted folks along the route and reject this agreement," said POWHR Co-Chair Russell Chisholm, "because we don't believe they have all of the information that should be considered."

"In its leniency, lack of transparency and lack of accountability, the Attorney General’s proposed agreement with MVP is little more than a ‘pay to pollute’ scheme," said POWHR Co-Chair Roberta Bondurant, "which broadcasts to out-of-state extraction interests that the Commonwealth is open for business to anyone who can pre-pay their crimes."

A spokesperson for MVP issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon: