(Franklin County, Va.) – A half-dozen landowners in Franklin County have sued developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, claiming their property was damaged by the company’s failure to control storm water runoff from a construction site.

The Martinsville Bulletin reports that the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. It seeks an immediate halt to construction, citing the company’s “disregard” for property damaged by recent mudslides.

After heavy rains earlier this month, land that crews had cleared for the pipeline’s right of way washed up to 8 inches of mud onto Cahas Mountain Road.

The lawsuit says the runoff left sediment and muddy water covering their hayfields and then made its way into nearby streams.

The landowners say the damage was caused by inadequate erosion controls and are asking the court to stop construction until Mountain Valley has taken steps to ensure more heavy rains won’t trigger another mudslide.

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