Mountain Valley Pipeline this week suspended some construction activities that could affect threatened or endangered species.
In a letter sent Thursday, MVP officials told federal regulators they were voluntarily suspending some pipeline construction in areas where it could impact two protected bat and two protected fish species.
The move follows a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups Monday challenging federal approvals issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Conservation groups are asking the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to toss two key permits issued to the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline, the Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement. Both are related to threatened and endangered species.
The 4th Circuit last month threw out the same Fish and Wildlife approvals for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
In a letter sent Friday, regulators at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission told MVP it may not resume construction in areas under the voluntary suspension without first seeking approval.
