Mountain Valley Pipeline Responds to Pipeline Safety Concerns

Strategic Insights -

A recent lawsuit filed against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP) raised concerns related to the implementation of MVP's welding procedures and the potential installation of corroded joints on the pipeline. In response, MVP emphasizes its top priority for pipeline safety and highlights its efforts to comply with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Part 192 pipeline safety regulations. MVP's construction, operations, maintenance, and integrity management programs are all conducted pursuant to these regulations. The Company has worked closely with PHMSA, and the agency has conducted frequent field inspections to monitor construction and evaluate MVP's procedures and programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • MVP emphasizes its top priority for pipeline safety, with a strong focus on complying with PHMSA's Part 192 pipeline safety regulations.
  • The Company has worked closely with PHMSA during construction, with the agency conducting frequent field inspections to monitor construction and evaluate MVP's procedures and programs.
  • MVP's welding procedures require visual inspection and non-destructive testing of all completed welds to confirm their integrity, and the Company followed these procedures for all welds on the pipeline.
  • Prior to the start of operations, MVP successfully pressure tested the pipeline pursuant to PHMSA's Part 192 Subpart J requirements, demonstrating the integrity of the pipeline and ensuring that normal operations are conducted at pressures that provide a substantial margin of safety.
  • MVP has demonstrated its willingness to proactively manage potential integrity threats, such as corrosion, pipe coating damage, and geohazards, through a consent agreement with PHMSA before the start of operations.
  • The Company has implemented extensive integrity management-related measures, including ACVG/DCVG surveys, utilization of PHMSA-approved third-party experts, and performance of close interval surveys.

Statistics:

  • MVP successfully pressure tested the pipeline to 125% or higher of its maximum allowable operating pressure, demonstrating the pipeline's integrity.
  • 100% of the welds on the pipeline were visually inspected and non-destructively tested to confirm their integrity.
  • The Company has worked closely with PHMSA to implement extensive integrity management-related measures, including ACVG/DCVG surveys and utilization of PHMSA-approved third-party experts.

Sources:

  • Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC. (2025). Response to Pipeline Safety Concerns. June 12, 2025. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Docket No. CP16-10-000.
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). (n.d.). Part 192 Pipeline Safety Regulations.
  • Charleston Gazette-Mail. (2025). "Lawsuit filed against Mountain Valley Pipeline alleging welding flaws." June 3, 2025.