The FERC has concluded that the MVP Southgate Pipeline project would result in limited adverse environmental impacts. Estimated to cost 468 billion dollars, the MVP Southgate project is due to be built this year. This pipeline would be built in North Carolina and go through Alamance and Rockingham counties. This pipeline would be directly parallel to the Haw River. Over 1 million citizens in 24 separate counties rely on this river for their water supplies.

It must be noted that the MVP pipeline was built incredibly unsafely. There have been over 300 violations reported and one casualty. It has been argued that the pipeline in North Carolina would be more safe, but even if this pipeline were built as safely as possible, there are extremely high risks associated with it. Pipelines disrupt natural water flow, as they cut through rivers and streams. In order to do this the natural habitat surrounding the pipeline, which in this case is the Haw river, will be deforested to make room for it. It will be cutting through every stream on the east side of the haw river for many miles. This alone will lead to heavy amounts of runoff entering the river, which will contaminate the water for those who live downstream, and will harm the natural environment of fish, turtles, birds, frogs, and plants which rely on the river for their survival. If the runoff wasn't enough, natural gas pipelines across the country contain up to a thousand different chemicals, including acids, bactericides, scale removers, and friction reducing agents. The pipes in the MVP pipeline are known to leak, and so in addition to extremely flammable methane gas entering the air and water, there will be various chemicals polluting the river as well. 

The gas in this pipeline is under high pressure, and because it is also highly flammable, it is susceptible to explosions. Since June 2020 in the United States there have been four pipeline explosions. They have damaged houses, caused serious injuries, and one fatality. If there is an explosion, there will also be much higher and larger quantities of natural gas and chemicals exposed to our air, soil, and water. In water, gas rapidly penetrates through fish gills and amphibians skin and disturbs main bodily functions such as respiration, nervous system, and more. Extended or high levels of exposure causes chronic poisoning. Natural gas escaping into the air causes extreme increases in climate change, higher risks of fires, and air that is dangerous to breathe and causes various health risks to the surrounding community. The damage from natural gas spills are nearly irreparable and harm the environment through direct contamination and increased global warming for years.

Contamination from the pipeline will also lead to farms through runoff. Alamance county alone has 831 farms, and contamination will also interfere with farms farther down the river in other counties. This pipeline will also ruin many Indigenous farms, as it is going through land where many Indigenous people are living, and will destroy occupied land that belongs to the Saponi, Occaneechi, Sissipahaw, and Shakori tribes. It will desecrate their land, destroy at least one burial site and any artifacts that have been left behind.

The natural gas running through the pipeline will be obtained through Hydraulic Fracturing. This is an extremely dangerous and unethical method of obtaining energy. Fracking uses an estimated 70 billion to 140 billion gallons of water a year nationwide. Unlike other energy-related water withdrawals, which are commonly returned to rivers and lakes, most of the water used to assist in hydraulic fracturing is not recoverable and must be disposed of. This is only a small part of the damages caused by hydraulic fracturing.

In addition to this, the pipeline is unnecessary. North Carolina already has an abundant supply of natural gas. North Carolina claims to be moving towards a clean energy plan, a decrease of 70% of natural gas use by 2030. This plan, as it takes effect, renders this pipeline obsolete in a number of years. This project is a waste of state money, resources, and will ruin our environment.

This pipeline has gotten less attention than other pipeline proposals. It seems less important as it is only 72 miles long, however the damage it causes to our state will be nearly irreparable, and the river will carry this pollution far beyond Alamance and Rockingham counties.  In addition to the river carrying pollution, MVP, LLC, has plans to extend the pipeline even farther, all of the way to the coast of South Carolina.

To ALL citizens, especially those in Alamance and surrounding counties, it is our duty to protect this land and to ensure that this pipeline is not built.

We must get traction behind this issue and quickly. The MVP Southgate Extension was meant to be built within 2020. In order to be built the DEQ must approve the 401 water quality certification for streams and wetland crossings, approve sediment and erosion control plans for land disturbing activities of one or more acre, and issue permits for stormwater discharges from permitted activities. It is extremely important that the DEQ knows that the citizens of North Carolina are against this pipeline being built. 

If you would really like to make a difference PLEASE do more than sign this petition.

Call DEQ secretary Michael Regan and his deputy, Sheila Holman and tell them our demands:

"We do not need this dangerous pipeline. Deny the 401 water quality permit for the mountain valley pipeline southgate project and shut this pipeline down!"

Michael S. Raegan, Secretary, NC department of environmental quality (NCDEQ):

Email: michael.Regan@ncdenr.gov phone: 9197078600

Cc: Kathleen Lance, special assistant, secretary, (NCDEQ):

Kathleen.Lancee@ncdenr.gov phone 919 707 8661

Send a letter to DEQ: 

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-mvp-southgate/