OEC Statement on Buckeye XPress Approval

MJ Eckhouse, January 28, 2020

Columbus, Ohio — On January 23, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the construction of the Buckeye XPress, a 66-mile natural gas pipeline cutting across the Wayne National Forest. Since late 2017, the Ohio Environmental Council has monitored the application process of the new pipeline, participated in public review and identified the failures of the project.

The following statement may be attributed, in whole or in part, to Chris Tavenor, Staff Attorney for the Ohio Environmental Council:

“In light of the climate change impacts threatening the health and wellbeing of our communities, we must protect our public lands from future fossil fuel development, including development of natural gas transmission pipelines and large-scale fracking operations. Unfortunately, the Buckeye XPress further threatens the Wayne National Forest and could potentially encourage more natural gas extraction throughout the region.

“FERC has based its decision on an Environmental Assessment that fails to account for the project’s future impacts, both to the Wayne and our climate. The OEC is considering all avenues of appeal, continuing the fight to protect Ohio’s only National Forest.”