Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426

RE: Docket No. CP19-14-000; Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Project Request for Extension of Time

Dear Secretary Bose:

I stand with Pipeliners Local 798 in support of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s request for the Commission to grant an extension of time until June 2026 to complete construction of the MVP Southgate Project and to place its facilities into service.

Demand for the Southgate Project is clear, and regulators recognize this. In June 2020, the Commission issued an order granting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Mountain Valley for this project. This Certificate Order was the result of a nearly two-year certificate process (Docket No. CP19-14-000) and a six-month pre-filing process (Docket No. PF18-4-000) that included strenuous review and public discussion. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit went on to affirm the Certificate Order in an order issued June 28, 2022, soundly rejecting multiple challenges to the Certificate Order on various grounds found in the Natural Gas Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

Other specific reasons why I support the construction extension for the MVP Southgate Project are outlined below:

• The Southgate Project continues to be supported by a long-term precedent agreement with Dominion Energy North Carolina at the same capacity levels as reviewed in the Certificate Order to meet the increased demand for natural gas supplies;
• The United States Congress notably found that "the timely completion of construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is required in the national interest." The Southgate Project is a critical component of the Mainline System;
• The environmental findings underlying the Commission’s authorizations for the MVP Project will remain valid through the term of this requested extension. This conclusion was recently affirmed by the Commission in granting an extension of time through October 2026 for the Mainline System;
• MVP has already generated tremendous economic benefits and supported good jobs for workers in the region, many of whom are members of Local 798, before legal challenges to project permits temporarily stopped construction. Our members depend on projects like MVP to support their families, and the region desperately needs the natural gas that MVP will supply. 

Local 798 recognizes Mountain Valley's commitment to completing this important infrastructure project. Granting this extension of time for construction will enable Mountain Valley to continue to collaborate with stakeholders and permitting agencies to strategically and safely construct the Southgate Project and ultimately help regional residents realize its many benefits. This is why I am proud to add my name to this comment supporting the requested construction extension.

Respectfully,

[Names below]