Urgent Action! Ask Virginia to Reject the Atlantic Coast Pipeline!

We need to act fast! The proposed 600-mile fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is on its way to being built – unless we all work together to stop this unnecessary and economically and environmentally devastating project.

This pipeline project proposed by Dominion Resources and Duke Energy would carry gas from the Marcellus Shale field in central West Virginia through Virginia to users in southeast Virginia and North Carolina, and would be shipped to overseas markets. The 600 mile, 42” diameter pipeline would require excavation of an 8 to 12-foot-deep trench, the bulldozing of a 125-foot-wide construction corridor for its entire length, and new and expanded compressor stations.

The route would cross two national forests and traverse steep, forested mountain slopes and fragile karst topography, presenting a significant hazard to the Shenandoah and James Rivers and other waterways without providing any benefit to local communities impacted by the pipeline’s construction and operation.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which is responsible for authorizing the construction, operation, and maintenance of interstate natural gas transmission pipelines, just rubberstamped this project.

But Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) can stop this pipeline by denying its water quality certification. We urge you submit comments on the draft water quality certification --- but act fast because the deadline is August 22.

You can comment with our Action Alert here.

OR

You can use these talking points and submit your own comments at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/ProtectionRequirementsforPipelines.aspx

Don’t hesitate! In your own words, tell Virginia that the Shenandoah and James Rivers are important to you. Would your drinking water supply be threatened by the construction of the pipeline? Do you use a stream for fishing, boating, swimming, or just for aesthetic enjoyment -- these are valid recreational uses that DEQ must protect.

DEQ is taking shortcuts to expedite the project review, instead of performing a careful and thorough review. We need to tell DEQ that this is unacceptable and the water quality certification for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline should be rejected!

Thank you!

Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper


P.S. Additional info on how to submit comments.

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