{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclellan-joins-scott-foushee-urge-full-review-proposed-natural-gas-pipelines", "McClellan Joins Scott, Foushee to Urge Full Review of Proposed Natural Gas Pipelines\u2019 Environmental Impact", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Jennifer L. McClellan", "M001227", "mcclellan.house.gov", "mcclellan", "https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) joined Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) in sending a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the Commission to thoroughly review the environmental impacts of the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) and the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate (Southgate) project before advancing the projects further.\n\n\u201cWe are concerned that FERC has not adequately reviewed all possible risks associated with the massive capacity expansion and resulting infrastructure of SSEP, the proposed changes to the Southgate project, the history of the developers\u2019 compliance, and the colocation of these two projects,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cOn behalf of communities in Virginia and North Carolina, we urge the Commission to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for both projects before considering them further. If FERC is unwilling to do so, we urge the Commission to deny the certification of both projects to ensure that the surrounding communities are not placed at undue risk.\u201d\n\nThe members highlighted the worrisome track records for the developers of these two projects.\n\n\u201cSince construction began on the Mountain Valley Pipeline mainline project, the developer has shown an unwillingness to comply with environmental and safety regulations,\u201d the letter states. \u201cIn 2018, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia alleged 375 violations, including hundreds of water quality protection violations. The violations include unpermitted discharges into waterways, failure to maintain and repair erosion and sediment controls, violations related to road crossings over streams, and violations related to water diversions and drains... Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC also allegedly terminated one of its inspectors for reporting safety violations. If that is true, this should also be considered in FERC\u2019s assessment as this action is a clear sign that the developer is willing to act against reporting violations and avoid taking necessary steps to address situations as they arise.\u201d\n\nThe letter also highlighted FERC\u2019s inadequacy in considering the cumulative impacts of these two projects being built in close proximity to one another.\n\n\u201cThe recommendation also does not adequately consider the cumulative impacts, including water quality and public safety impacts, that may occur due to the colocation of portions of the SSEP and the Southgate project,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cApproximately 95 percent of the SSEP\u2019s proposed Eden Loop is within a quarter mile of Southgate, and multiple waterways would be impacted by both projects. The potential for permanent cumulative impacts from individual pipeline crossings is compounded when there are multiple crossings of a waterway or in a watershed. The colocation of two high-pressure, large diameter pipelines is of significant concern for local residents.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mcclellan.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcclellan-joins-scott-foushee-urge-full-review-proposed-natural-gas-pipelines"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4552639331668615, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}