Dunn and Kellam were on opposite sides of the split decision last year by the board to award, with conditions, state water quality certifications to the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. In general, Dunn is seen as a reliable vote for what the DEQ wants the board to do. The DEQ itself is seen as too accommodating of industry and has faced widespread criticism for how it handled the pipelines. It did however, claim a modest measure of vindication when the same federal appeals court that has struck down federal pipeline approvals left and right upheld the agency’s water quality review for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Kellam, on the other hand, voted against issuing certifications for both pipeline projects and, at the last water board meeting in May, supported revoking them.