RICHMONR, Va. — A federal appeals court recently overturned a decision by a lower court, reinstating a significant monetary award to Virginia landowners impacted by the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals supported the Terry family of Roanoke County, who contended that the compensation offered for their land seized for the pipeline was insufficient.
The construction of the 303-mile natural gas pipeline, which has stirred controversy for its environmental and property rights implications, led to the condemnation of an eight-acre easement on the Terry family’s property. Initially, a jury awarded the family over $500,000 in damages, recognizing the loss and inconvenience caused by the construction. However, this amount was later reduced to $261,000 by a U.S. district judge.
The appellate court’s decision to restore the original jury verdict was articulated in a ruling issued on Tuesday. This ruling came amidst efforts by Equitrans Midstream, the company behind the pipeline, to expedite the completion of the project. Equitrans Midstream has been pressing to receive federal approval to begin operations by June 1.
In an unfortunate turn of events for Equitrans, the pipeline failed a crucial water pressure test near the Terry property on May 1. This failure has fueled further requests from state and local officials, along with residents, urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to withhold operational approval for the pipeline.
Despite the challenges and opposition, Natalie Cox, spokeswoman for Equitrans Midstream, expressed belief in the correctness of the original reduction by the district judge. She stated, “While we respect the judicial process, we believe the district judge’s initial decision was just. We are eager to move past this disagreement towards a final resolution.”
The appeal and subsequent reversal underline the complexities and heated disputes often associated with large-scale energy infrastructure projects. These projects frequently provoke a tug of war between economic development interests and the rights and concerns of affected landowners and environmental advocates.
Legal experts suggest that the appeals court’s decision may set a precedent for how compensation issues for land seizures in similar infrastructure projects are approached in the future. It also highlights the ongoing judicial and regulatory hurdles that major pipeline projects like Mountain Valley face.
As the pipeline saga continues, the case of the Terry family brings into sharp relief the broader national debate over natural gas projects and their intersection with environmental protection and private property rights. The outcome of this legal battle and the operation of the pipeline will likely have enduring implications not only for the stakeholders directly involved but also for the region’s environmental and economic landscape.