"The Biden administration has granted a crucial permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a project championed by Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, despite opposition from climate experts and environmental groups.

The decision by the United States Forest Service, issued late Monday, would allow the pipeline to run through 3.5 miles of Jefferson National Forest, which straddles West Virginia and Virginia.

The move injects momentum into the $6.6 billion project, intended to carry gas about 300 miles from the Marcellus shale fields in West Virginia across nearly 1,000 streams and wetlands before ending in Virginia.

It also delivers a significant victory to Mr. Manchin, a Democrat who strongly supports fossil fuels and who faces a potentially difficult re-election campaign next year. The approval is being interpreted by some as the administration’s attempt to placate Mr. Manchin, who in recent weeks has railed against what he calls the Biden administration’s “radical climate agenda.”"

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times May 16, 2023.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/climate/biden-mountain-valley-pipelin... [2]