Update: March 31, 2019

Hurst received a response on March 25th, denying his “stop work” order request. Construction continues on the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Virginia Del. Chris Hurst (D-12) has demanded a “stop work” order on construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Hurst sent a letter to Department of Environmental Quality Director David Paylor, requesting the stoppage until threats to the region’s water supply are evaluated.

According to Hurst, two state laws, SB 698 and SB 699, allow the DEQ to issue a stop work order on a part of the construction site that has caused “substantial and adverse impacts to water quality or are likely to cause imminent and substantial adverse impacts to water quality.”

This comes after Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring filed a lawsuit against the builders of the pipeline back on December 7, claiming they committed more than 300 violations of state environmental laws by failing to control sediment and storm-water runoff.

It remains to be seen if Paylor meets Hurst’s demand.