Federal Court Halts Manchin-Backed Pipeline Despite Congressional Approval

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a stay on the construction of a portion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a natural gas pipeline supported by Senator Joe Manchin. Congress had fast-tracked the completion of the pipeline by removing the Fourth Circuit's jurisdiction over the matter, but environmentalists argued that Congress overstepped its authority. The stay affects a three-mile portion of the pipeline running through the Jefferson National Forest. Senator Manchin criticized the court's decision, while Equitrans Midstream, the energy company involved in the project, is considering legal options, including an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court.