Dispute on Pipeline Compressor Station Heads to Court

A court of appeals is preparing to hear arguments against building a compressor station for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in a historic Virginia community.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A contentious plan to build a natural gas pipeline compressor station in a historic African American community in Virginia is headed to a federal appeals court. 

The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday from opponents who want to overturn a permit approved by the State Air Pollution Control Board.

The permit would allow the construction of a compressor station in Union Hill for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The unincorporated community was founded by freed slaves.

Opponents are concerned that exhaust from the station would cause harmful health effects on nearby residents.

The pipeline's lead developer — Dominion Energy — has said that most air emissions at the station will be 50% to 80% lower than at any other compressor station in Virginia.