WV DEP Orders Rover to Stop Pipe Construction in 2 of 4 Counties
Rover Pipeline has had trouble with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). The OEPA has jumped on Rover's back and hasn't gotten off--over spills of drilling mud and mishandling (according to OEPA) torrential rainwater that ended up in Rover trenches, which Rover pumped out, flooding local farmers' fields (see OEPA & Rover at Odds Over Storm Water Runoff, “Fine” Now $714K). The OEPA also claims diesel fuel was found in some of the spilled drilling mud (see OH EPA Says Diesel Fuel Found in Rover 2M Gal Drilling Mud Spill). OEPA got the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) involved, asking FERC (the agency in charge of oversight) for help in reigning in Rover. FERC did just that, shutting down some of Rover's activities while it (FERC) investigates. Now Rover is getting grief from the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). The WVDEP issued water pollution control permits for the project, and now says Rover has violated the conditions of the permits and must cease and desist "land development activity until such time when compliance with the terms and conditions of its permit and all pertinent laws and rules is achieved." The issue appears to revolve around handling of storm water runoff (one of the issues in Ohio). Construction of Rover in Doddridge and Tyler counties has stopped, but construction continues in Hancock and Marshall counties...
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