Construction on the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is proceeding after a four-day halt. Community members see the temporary stoppage as a misleading stunt to improve public relations for the controversial project.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) facilitated the PR move last week for the MVP corporation. MVP conspired with DEQ, misleading the public into believing there would be substantial review of the project’s environmental impact.

(Picture Source: WDBJ7)

Locals like Genesis Chapman are sick and tired of MVP claiming to care about water quality. “They have not done the erosion and sediment controls that they promised. They obviously lied,” Chapman said.

Residents along the pipeline’s intended route are beyond frustrated, having seen MVP take their land, poison their water, and disregard anyone who opposes them as “terrorists”. Some have taken the path of peaceful protest through aerial blockades. Ten people formed a formidable resistance along the pipeline route by sitting in trees for up to 95 days. Two of these tree-sitters were Red and Minor Terry.

The Terrys stayed in tree-houses on their family land for over a month. Police deprived them of food and water. MVP sued, and Judge Elizabeth Dillon ordered each of the Terrys to pay MVP $1,000 for each day they stayed up. They came down, and have since taken activism to the streets.

On July 7, the Terrys and other pipeline fighters organized a “Die-in” in which they laid down and symbolically “died” to bring awareness to the dangers of the pipeline. Minor Terry made her own tombstone for the event. She told us that the work stoppage was nothing more than a PR move.

“It felt pretty much like a slap in the face; a holiday for all the workers to go home and enjoy the 4th with their family instead of actually strengthening their erosion and sediment control measures. It felt very much like a facade,” Terry said.

(Minor Terry’s “Gravestone”)

The work stoppage was made in order to “focus exclusively on erosion controls” according to MVP spokesperson Natalie Cox. Those familiar with MVP knew that the corporation had no substantial plans to control erosion, and that the water would not be saved. MVP has already claimed that they are using effective erosion and sediment controls.

“There’s literally thousand of photographs of how they’re not doing that,” Chapman said regarding MVP’s “erosion control”. “They have done nothing but lie. We have 4 years of having dealt with them; they have done nothing but promised all kinds of bullshit,” Chapman added.

Red Terry came down from her tree-house two months ago. She is still fighting the pipeline.

(Red Terry stayed in this tree-house between two trees on her property for over a month)

“MVP has lied about everything. Kathy Chandler, she has an Indian burial ground on her land; two mounds with flat rocks on them. We’ve had two tribes come by and say ‘yes, that is an Indian burial ground,’” Terry said. MVP claims the site is not a burial ground, and plans to route the pipeline through the area.

People fighting MVP have taken every action imaginable, including locking themselves to construction equipment and sitting in trees. Folks have documented numerous violations incurred by MVP during construction with no response from the DEQ, State Water Control Board (SWCB) or Governor Northam.

Folks taking the path of peaceful resistance have been met with reckless aggression and deprivation tactics from MVP and law enforcement. Some of the strategies used against tree-sitters have been decried as “internationally illegal” under the Geneva convention, and “federally illegal” under standards set by Deshaney v. Winnebago County Dept. of Social Services (1989).

(The Forest Service shines lights on supporters of “Nutty” while they try to sleep. Nutty stayed 50 feet high in a small tent for 56 days. Three people were arrested trying to give her food. She did not eat for the last 3 days.)

Maury Johnson lives in West Virginia, and the pipeline is crossing his land. “If you feel like you’re alone and nobody has your back, it’s easy to not be involved. But you find out that there’s hundreds of people wanting to support you, then you feel better.” Johnson said.

Those resisting the pipeline are calling on DEQ (804-698-4003), the SWCB (804- 698-4108), and Governor Northam (804-786-2211) to do the right thing and stop these destructive projects.

Protesters said that DEQ needs to share twenty-plus citizen-documented MVP violations with the SWCB. They add that SWCB needs to convene earlier than their Aug 21st meeting to do their jobs.

Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam could stop the MVP immediately if he so chose. Minor Terry said concerned people should “Call Governor Northam and tell him that he can revoke the 401 water certification, which will put a stop to these pipelines.”

“For some of us it’s been a four-year battle, and it’s hard. It’s demoralizing and it’s depressing, but we’re still here,” Terry added.

MVP is a proposed 42-inch diameter pipeline to transport fracked marcellus shale gas from West Virginia to Alamance County, North Carolina.

Resistance to this pipeline began back in 2014, but those involved are looking for fresh voices and eyes to help. Maury Johnson said that he was naive at first and didn’t think the pipeline was “A big deal.”

“It took me a very short amount of time to actually research, put aside the company propaganda and see what the real truth of the matter is. This will destroy our water somewhere. This will explode somewhere. This will likely kill or injure people somewhere,” Johnson said.