Forest Service vacatur. As of May, Dominion’s expectations
were that construction would recommence during the third
quarter of 2019 with full in-service in 2021.
“ACP has been the most thoroughly reviewed infrastructure
project in the history of our region,” says Orndorff. “We are
proud of our safety and environmental record and are confi-
dent we will prevail.”
Finding Common Ground
With both sides of this battle determined to claim victory,
common ground may be nothing more than a pipe dream, but
the continued pursuit is worthwhile for all involved. Protesters
want the public to believe the pipeline projects are an enemy
to the environment, just like fossil fuels. For Orndorff, this
could not be further from the truth.
“Our commitment to protecting the environment is more than
a professional statement,” he says. “It’s a personal commitment
to our community. We live and work in the communities where
this pipeline is being built, and we made a solemn commitment
to our friends, family and neighbors that this will be done the
right way.”
Fershee believes that finding common ground may still be
possible, depending on the groups. “Some protesters don’t want
any natural gas projects, period, so there is no way to appease
them,” he explains. “I think regulators and the industry can
appease some protesters, though, by having clear plans and
strong protections built into their plans and approvals, as well
as clearly demonstrating that all environmental impacts are
being considered and weighed.”
BOTH SIDES OF THE BATTLE
There are two sides to every story, and the case for pipeline
construction is no different. The Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter has
published on its website six of its reasons for opposing the ACP
and MVP. Here’s what members of West Virginia’s natural gas
industry and those affiliated with the projects want the public to
know about these concerns.
1. Pipelines will damage water quality with increased sediment
and chemical pollution due to construction crossing numerous
watersheds, rivers, streams, springs, wetlands and riparian
areas.
Pipeline construction through waterways is heavily regulated by
the EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the states in which
they are located. Through the FERC permitting process, prior to
construction these agencies ensure the environment is protected
to the fullest extent possible. Strict requirements are imposed and
enforced before and during construction by these agencies.
– Anne Blankenship, Executive Director, WV Oil & Natural Gas
Association
2. Pipelines increase our dependence on fracked gas and will
generate at least 95 million tons per year of greenhouse gas
emissions.
According to a recent report by Energy In Depth, the increased
production of natural gas has actually significantly decreased
greenhouse gas emissions nationally. In the Appalachian Basin,
from 2011-2017, combined oil and natural gas annual average
production grew 379 percent. At the same time, methane emissions
from production in the basin fell 82 percent.
– Anne Blankenship, Executive Director, WV Oil & Natural Gas
Association
3. Use of eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way that
landowners are unwilling to grant and causing significant
decreases in property values.
The FERC has reviewed claims pertaining to land values and concluded
that the presence of an interstate natural gas transmission line does
not adversely impact property value. With regard to eminent domain,
MVP has a history of providing just compensation for easements
necessary for a project approved and deemed by the FERC to serve
public need for natural gas.
– Natalie Cox, Communications Director, Equitrans Midstream
Corporation, and Spokesperson, MVP
4. Pipelines cross unstable and unsafe karst geology ...
The chance of a pipeline failing due to the sudden and catastrophic
development of a karstic subsidence of rock or soil is highly unlikely,
based on the history of existing installations. In fact, natural gas
transmission pipelines have never been considered a risk to the karst
environment in the Appalachian region by karst and/or engineering
geologists when installed using trenching methods that adhere to
responsible construction standards of practice.
– Bob Orndorff, State Policy Director, Dominion Energy
5. The pipelines fragment more than 50 miles of national forest
property and cross the nationally known and highly popular
Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Eastern Trail and Appalachian Trail.
Project crews have worked diligently to develop plans to cross
these resources carefully and responsibly. In fact, the crossing of
the Blue Ridge Parkway has already been completed and is in the
restoration phase.
– Natalie Cox, Communications Director, Equitrans Midstream
Corporation, and Spokesperson, MVP
6. Compressed natural gas pipelines flowing at high pressure
often leak and can explode.
The industry has reduced pipeline leaks by more than 90 percent
over the past three decades, in large part by investing in new
infrastructure like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This pipeline will have
multiple overlapping layers of protection to prevent leaks and other
damage. As for safety, natural gas pipelines are the safest form of
energy transportation in the U.S.
– Bob Orndorff, State Policy Director, Dominion Energy
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
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