The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) would carry fracked gas across 303 miles from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia. The proposed pipeline would have a carbon impact equivalent to 26 typical coal plants and risk water contamination in local communities and homes. MVP’s “Southgate Extension” plan includes the Lambert compressor station in Pittsylvania County. Learn more about MVP’s “Southgate Extension” plan by watching the NAACP virtual webinar below.

The Lambert compressor station would be the third compressor station located in the same community. Compressor stations, which help maintain the pressure and flow of the natural gas in pipelines, can be significant sources of pollution, emitting carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxides, volatile organic compounds, and other harmful pollutants. The Lambert compressor station would pump and pressurize fracked gas to travel from Chatham, Pittsylvania County, into North Carolina, posing several environmental and public health risks for the historically Black community.

VAIPL’s Efforts to Stop the MVP Lambert Compressor Station

In fall 2021, VAIPL, the Pittsylvania County NAACP, and Artivism Virginia organized community events in Chatham, Pittsylvania County, to ensure community members are aware of the public health risks associated with the compressor station. These events garnered the solidarity of the larger Pittsylvania County community, which played an important role in the denial of the air permit for the MVP Southgate Lambert Compressor station.

The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board denied the air permit for the proposed Lambert Compressor station in November of 2021. Following this decision, in late December, MVP filed a petition to review the Air Board’s decision. On March 29th, MVP’s appeal to reverse the board’s decision was dismissed by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, affirming the Air Pollution Control Board’s decision to deny the permit for Lambert Compressor Station!

Watch VAIPL’s Environmental Justice NOW! episode on MVP and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month with Crystal Cavalier, Yésa Nédéwahe Saponi Cultural Gardens, and 7 Directions of Service Co-Founder. We shared ways to support our Indigenous neighbors who uplift creation care and protect their air and water from the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s environmental injustices.

Other Ways to Get Involved

• Follow the Pittsylvania County NAACP Facebook to get updates on the Pittsylvania County community efforts to #stopMVP.
• Follow 7 Directions of Service on Facebook (@7DirectionsofService) to get updates on what our Indigenous neighbors are doing to uplift creation care and protect their air and water from the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s environmental injustices.
• Follow Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights (POWHR) on Twitter (@POWHR_Coalition) and Facebook (@POWHR) for updates on the movement to #StopMVP.
• To directly support the resistance to the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline, donate to Interfaith Alliance For Climate Justice, a Virginia-based nonprofit.
• Mountain Valley Watch (MVW), a collaboration of volunteers, nonprofits, and private interests, will observe and document the construction activity of the Mountain Valley Pipeline to assure compliance with environmental regulations during construction. Visit Mountain Valley Watch on Facebook for training schedules, events, and updates.