BIG ISAAC, W.Va. – “God help us all.”

With those words, Justin McClain, whose farm in Doddridge County, W.Va. is at ground zero for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), expressed his sentiment to the news that fast-tracking the MVP has been added to the Debt Ceiling bill by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia through behind-the-scenes political shenanigans.

The provision is the last one listed at the end of the bill. At four pages long, it comes in almost three pages longer than the last page-and-a-half – and main point of the bill – a temporary extension of an increase in the debt limit. Including the MVP was surprising, as nobody involved in the negotiations revealed the deal. It was only after the bill text was released Sunday night that news of it was reported.

If approved, the bill automatically approves all outstanding permits for the MVP, disallows judicial review of the project, expedites its approval to just three weeks following passage of the bill and contains a disputable narrative begun by Manchin that the MVP is in the national interest.

Here is some key language from the bill:

In the National Interest: “The Congress hereby finds and declares that the timely completion of construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is required in the national interest (because it) … will allow natural gas producers to access additional markets for their product, and will reduce carbon emissions and facilitate the energy transition.” The first is in corporate efforts, not national interests. The last two are simply not true.

Immediate Approval: “Congress hereby ratifies and approves all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements, and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to Federal law necessary for the construction and initial operation at full capacity of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.” Congress also orders agencies to issue said permits, etc. This begs the question, why even have the regulatory agencies?

Expedited Approval: Within 21 days, Congress orders Authorities Having Jurisdiction to comply with the bill’s provisions. Again, why even have the agencies and environmental laws?

No Judicial Review: The bill reads, in part, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no court shall have jurisdiction to review any action …” To say the least, it will be beyond interesting to see if the Congress can simply tell the courts – and ultimately the people they purportedly represent – to go to hell.

McClain is too polite and gentle of a soul to say such a thing. However, he does not mince words about his experience and what he thinks of Joe Manchin. 

“Every summer, about the first of June, we get a hard rain.” He explained that because of topsoil eroding into the creek (slips) from previous pipeline construction, “There’s no creek anymore. It’s all filled in with sediment.” He continued, “If they get the MVP approved, it’s going to be more mud and water. It tears up more ground than you know.”

Indeed, the failed runoff controls have led to their fence being damaged – which McClain and his dad had to repair – and gravel, mud and debris being spread across their land.

The McClain’s land is also where the MVP and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (currently abandoned) cross. “They’ve been working behind the house. They’ve brought in bulldozers and tractor trailers.” He dreads further construction. “These hills are so steep, after they get the pipelines in, the hills slip. Trees rot up. It is poorly planned. Nobody put a foot on the ground. They flew over in helicopters and drew it up in these offices. They don’t know this land.”

McClain also senses the future will not be better. “When they get that pipeline running, they’re going to start drilling more drills around here. There is already a lot of drilling in the area. It destroys the road. The road in front of our house is the worst it’s been in years.”

He continued, “Nobody drinks the water. We haven’t drunk our water for years. We drink bottled water. Others have water buffaloes. We have neighbors whose wells have been destroyed. They (the MVP) won’t make it right.”

As McClain sees it, “It’s just a few people getting rich and all the other people are suffering because of it.”

He is also blunt in his assessment of Manchin. “Manchin should take care of the people of West Virginia. He doesn’t care about the people of West Virginia. The MVP is certainly not going to help us. They don’t hire anybody locally. They bring people in and say we’re not qualified to operate a bulldozer. Then they liquify it and ship it out of the state and country. That doesn’t help us. I don’t see where that’s helping anyone in this county. All of these promises that they were going to build new roads and improve the community, they haven’t done. I don’t see how it’s benefiting anyone here.”

While McClain – and thousands of others along the MVP route – appeal to God for help, Joe Manchin is bragging about his back-room dealing. In a news release Monday morning, Manchin said, “Last summer, I introduced legislation to complete the Mountain Valley Pipeline. I am pleased Speaker McCarthy and his leadership team see the tremendous value in completing the MVP to increase domestic energy production and drive down costs across America and especially in West Virginia. I am proud to have fought for this critical project and to have secured the bipartisan support necessary to get it across the finish line.”

One could suspect another motivation. Manchin is preparing for retirement. His political future in doubt, perhaps he’s going to buy some land in Doddridge County to enrich himself from an industry that is going to be essentially unregulated. Just a notion.

It’s a short-term win for the fossil fuel industry mono-economy. Sadly, though, it’s a long term loss for human life and all that supports it – animals, plants, water and air. It’s not across the finish line, though admittedly the odds are good for it considering the risk of defaulting on our national debt.

“Manchin should take care of the people of West Virginia. He doesn’t care about the people of West Virginia. The MVP is certainly not going to help us. … All of these promises that they were going to build new roads and improve the community, they haven’t done. I don’t see how it’s benefiting anyone here.”

– Justin McClain, farmer in Doddridge County, W.Va.

Still, it’s worth a try.

Write your U.S. Senators and Representatives. There should be bi-partisan opposition to this provision. If you are writing to a conservative, remind them of their stance for liberty and the tyranny of eminent domain. Remind liberals of the need to protect our public health, water, land and air. Moderates should understand that natural gas is not a “clean” transitional energy source.

If you need some ammunition, there is this article, “A Dirty Dozen Reasons to Oppose Fracking.” It is included in my book released in February, “Fractured Sanctuary: A Chronicle of Grassroots Activists Fighting Pipelines of Destruction in Appalachia.”

While it may seem like a shameless promotion to ask that you take a look at the book, it isn’t. This isn’t my story. It is the story of the people in the way of the fossil fuel corporations. Consisting of 37 chapters, it reveals accounts of reluctant activists fighting water, air, land and sound pollution; of people fighting to breathe in methane-filled sacrificial zones; it is accounts of people giving up their careers and retirement plans to join the fight; and, it is full of scientific and investigative studies done by dozens of environmental organizations, individuals and universities all sharing the same discoveries – fracking, pipelines and the related infrastructure is simply nasty pollution that is not good for any living thing.

It is worth the read, whatever the outcome of this bill. That is because one thing is certain. The fossil fuel industry will not restrain itself. Timber, coal, gas, oil and other extraction industries will now feel empowered to hasten the pace of Mountaintop Removal (MTR), fracking exploration, and the clear-cutting of mountain tops. All of these activities have proven to be destructive and deadly to people, animals and watersheds.

In short, the fight will continue. Even more reluctant activists will be needed. Apathy is simply not an option. It is a question of values. If you value people and the planet and abhor pollution, you are needed. Those that value profit have no intention of stopping. Joe Manchin just proved it. Again. So, neither do we have the luxury to stop. The tyranny of betrayal must be opposed. That is the only way to ensure that we live according to our state motto, “Mountaineers are Always Free.”

© Michael M. Barrick, 2023.