MVP sedimentation analysis fails to sufficiently mitigate water quality impacts within the Jefferson National Forest

Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) misused and misrepresented existing research by applying calculations to terrains where they haven’t been tested, by predicting impacts to candy darters based on a different fish species that has considerable biological differences, and by claiming a report justified the effectiveness of their erosion control measures even though it said the opposite. Further, Baseline levels for sedimentation have never been measured, so the total risk to threatened and endangered species is highly uncertain.

MVP’s analysis overlooked many important considerations, including adjustment of sediment estimates for steep terrain, the United States Forest Service concern cited in 2018 that called for species-specific erosion thresholds, and the documented failure of erosion control measures. MVP overstated the effectiveness of their sediment control measures at reducing adverse water quality impacts from their construction activities.

Lastly, MVP failed to use water quality monitoring to track effects on water bodies, even as United States Geological Survey gauges showed higher increases in sediment concentrations during construction than estimated by MVP.