A three-judge panel wrestled Thursday over whether to intervene and block the approval of a 31-mile extension project that would bring natural gas from the Mountain Valley pipeline to customers in North Carolina.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit questioned during a hearing whether it could issue a ruling on the case, as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has yet to decide whether to approve a modified plan to build the long-delayed MVP Southgate project.
“We have a proposed amendment that is significant, why can’t I conclude this is not ripe for our consideration?” asked Senior Judge Harry Edwards, a Carter appointee.
Why shouldn’t the court say, “Come back when this is all done because we don’t know what FERC is going to do?” he continued.
