Trump's Reckless Move on Offshore Drilling

Trump Risks Virginia’s $8.3 Billion Ocean Economy in Reckless Offshore Drilling Move

Harrison Wallace, Virginia Policy Coordinator at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated:

President Trump’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management turned its back on coastal communities today when it offered up almost every bit of U.S. coastline for offshore drilling exploration. Since 2015, thousands of coastal citizens and over 140 coastal communities came out strongly against this dangerous drilling practice, yet President Trump’s administration has still decided to take on this reckless draft plan.

Instead of risking the future of an ocean economy that contributes more than $8.3 billion to Virginia’s economy, we should be investing in more wind energy that would double the amount of jobs that offshore drilling could produce. The Trump administration’s decision could also interfere with Navy and NASA operations that take place off of Virginia’s coast, threatening our defense preparedness.

As the effects of climate change ravage Virginia’s coast through stronger storms and increased recurrent flooding, the last thing we should do is attempt to extract even more fossil fuels. Secretary Zinke and the Trump Administration need to listen to the people and protect our climate, our coastline, and our communities.

CONTACT:
Harrison Wallace, Virginia Policy Coordinator, harrison@chesapeakeclimate.org, 804-305-1472
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org, 608-620-8819

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Letter from the Director: Saving the North Pole

Dear friends,
There are a million causes to give to this time of year. But keep this in mind: We at CCAN are fighting to save the actual North Pole!
And the South Pole! And everything in between.
Please give with all your might to all of the other good causes, but remember to keep climate change near the top. Without a solution to climate change, all the good causes we donate to this time of year will be made worse, from childhood hunger to animal welfare to the restoration of your favorite river. So please, as 2017 draws to a close, would you consider a generous gift of $35, $50, $100, or more to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network?
What has CCAN achieved this year? In Virginia, we’ve delayed one massive fracked-gas pipeline and gone to court to stop another. In DC, we’ve made huge progress in passing an innovative carbon rebate bill. And in Maryland, we’ve advanced the cause of rooftop solar and offshore wind power — and don’t forget the BAN ON FRACKING!
It’s been a year of big freaking deals, in the words of our friends. A true banner year. So, we’re celebrating.
But we need your support to help us keep this momentum up next year. So will you celebrate with us and help us keep fighting in 2018 with a generous gift today? Or would you consider signing up to give monthly?
To save the North Pole — and the hopes and dreams of all children everywhere — we’ve got to keep fossil fuels in the ground while we power all our menorahs and Christmas trees and Kwanzaa lights with sunbeams and ocean breezes.
Happy holidays from the whole CCAN family!
Mike Tidwell
 

200 Landowners and Advocates Join to Oppose Potomac Pipeline as Hogan Administration Weighs Approval

Opposition Against TransCanada’s Potomac Pipeline for Fracked Gas is Swelling Across Region

 
HANCOCK, MD- Over 200 concerned citizens from Maryland, D.C. and West Virginia joined in opposition to the Potomac Pipeline on Tuesday evening in Hancock, Maryland during the Maryland Department of Environment’s public hearing on the controversial pipeline. The evening included a rally outside Hancock High, where the hearing was held, and silent protests during the hearing, with activists standing holding signs while pipeline proponents spoke.
The pipeline, proposed by TransCanada, would ship fracked gas from Maryland to a Mountaineer Gas pipeline in West Virginia, passing through the town of Hancock and underneath the Potomac River. The group of activists drew attention to the dangers of the proposed pipeline and called on Maryland Governor Hogan to direct his administration to protect clean water and deny the water permit necessary for its construction.
“The state of Maryland rose up in unity to stop fracking this spring,” Brooke Harper, Environmental Justice Chair of the NAACP Maryland State Conference and Maryland Policy Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated. “But now TransCanada wants to threaten our communities with fracked-gas infrastructure. Governor Hogan cannot allow this to happen. We will rise up again and again until this pipeline has been stopped.”
The rally and public hearing took place amid swelling opposition to the pipeline from across the region.  In recent weeks, the Boonsboro Town Council and the D.C. Council sent letters asking Governor Hogan to reject the pipeline, while the Washington County Board of Commissioners sent a letter expressing concerns about the pipeline and asking him to “protect drinking water” and postpone approval for the pipeline until its dangers are addressed.
“The major concern is the Potomac River,” said Dan Divito, Washington County Deputy Director of Water Quality, addressing his concerns to the Herald-Mail. “The Potomac River is the source of water for our Sharpsburg water treatment plant that supplies all the water to all the citizens of Sharpsburg. The Potomac River is also the source of water for the city of Hagerstown, which not only provides water to the citizens of Hagerstown within the city limits, but also Funkstown Smithsburg, and Williamsport. So there’s a significant number of people who rely on the water that comes from the Potomac River.”
The rally also included landowners like Patricia Kesecker, a seventh generation farmer in West Virginia who was sued by Mountaineer Gas for the right to seize portions of her property to build the pipeline. Kesecker is going to court on Friday, December 22 to request a jury trial to repeal the decision. “It’s a sad day for our family when we have to go to court because Mountaineer Gas wants to seize the land that has been in our family for generations,” Patricia Kesecker stated. “It’s even sadder because it is happening right before Christmas. They won’t allow us our peace on Earth, not even at the holidays.”
The pipeline is being proposed by TransCanada, infamous for backing the Keystone XL pipeline. Less than a month before the hearing, TransCanada’s Keystone pipeline spilled 210,000 barrels of oil in South Dakota. TransCanada’s track record also includes gas pipeline explosions in Manitoba and Wyoming.
“We are well too aware of the risks at stake from this pipeline,” Sammi Brown, Director for Progressive Change Campaign Committee at the West Virginia Working Families Party. “We have seen spill after spill from TransCanada and other companies. We know what will happen if we let them build this — and we won’t let it happen. I will work tirelessly to protect my community in West Virginia. ”
“The risks posed by this pipeline are far greater than the MDE has yet taken into consideration,” stated Brent Walls, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper. “It’s about more than the TransCanada portion of the pipeline. There is a significant threat from the Mountaineer Gas pipeline, which will cross numerous streams that feed into the Potomac River and drinking water sources for the public. But without this information, MDE should have no choice but to deny his permit and the 401 certification.”
From paddling against the pipeline, to a months-long encampment in the spirit of Standing Rock, the coalition fighting the Potomac Pipeline has built a massive movement and drawn national attention to the harms that this project could cause.
Paula Jean Swearengin, West Virginia resident and previous board member of the Keepers of the Mountain Foundation, stated: “As a West Virginia resident and social justice organizer, I’ve seen firsthand how pipelines like this cause downward spirals in our communities. Often times the jobs are outsourced, and the people’s land, water, communities and local economy suffer greatly. West Virginia’s valuable drinking water supply has already taken a hit from fossil fuels, whether it be coal, fracking or pipelines. West Virginia doesn’t need another hit and we hate to see Maryland go down the same path.”
Organizations participating in the action include the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Eastern Panhandle Protectors, Sierra Club, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, and Food and Water Watch and DC 350.
CONTACT:
Brooke Harper; Chesapeake Climate Action Network; brooke@chesapeakeclimate.org; 301-992-6875;
Brent Walls; Upper Potomac Riverkeeper; Brent@upperpotomacriverkeeper.org; 443-480-8970;
Denise Robbins; Chesapeake Climate Action Network; denise@chesapeakeclimate.org; 608-620-8819

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Virginia Water Control Board Vote Today: Dominion CANNOT Build Controversial Pipeline in VA Without More Study

Last-minute Delay of Permit Seen as Positive Step by Landowners and Environmentalists in Fight Over Dominion’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline for Fracked Gas

More Information Needed, Board Says. Decision is a Rebuke of Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Unwavering Support for the Controversial Pipeline; CCAN Looks to Governor-elect Northam’s Administration to Protect Virginia’s Waters

Summary: Bowing to unprecedented opposition from landowners and environmentalists, the Virginia State Water Control Board today threw a wrench in the plans of Governor Terry McAuliffe and Dominion Energy to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline for fracked gas. The board voted 4-3 to approve the project under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, but dependent on a final review of several environmental studies. The vote delays Dominion’s plan to begin near-term construction of the 600-mile pipeline. The decision likely means this issue will be delayed into 2018 and into the administration of Governor-elect Ralph Northam, who has taken a less openly supportive stance on the pipeline due to environmental concerns.
Statement from Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network:

“In a setback for notorious polluter Dominion Energy, the Virginia State Water Control Board today sided with landowners and environmentalists in calling for more rigorous and comprehensive review of the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline. After being ignored for years by Governor Terry McAuliffe and Dominion, the voices of everyday Virginians were finally heard and we will work tirelessly to make sure all the facts can come to the table. CCAN and our allies have argued all along that any science-based and transparent review of all the harmful impacts of the ACP can only result in official and final denial of Dominion’s radical pipeline for fracked gas.

“Now Virginians are counting on the Administration of Governor-elect Ralph Northam to do what the McAuliffe Administration failed to do: let science and the law guide decision-making on the pipeline.”

Background:
The Board bucked enormous pressure from Governor McAuliffe’s Administration, which was pressuring Board members to approve the pipeline without undergoing the in-depth analysis that a project at this scale requires. The Board voted to delay certification for the pipeline until after the Governor’s Department of Environmental Quality can review and give final approval to erosion and sediment control plans, stormwater management plans, and studies of sensitive karst terrain. While an outright denial of the project was warranted, the Board’s decision delays the project.
Unfortunately, the same Board approved the equally controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline for fracked gas last week. CCAN and three other groups immediately filed a lawsuit against that decision. Our hope is that today’s ACP delay could bring a similar regulatory delay to the MVP process, but there is uncertainty on this front.
Thousands of Virginians have mobilized over the past three years to stand against the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. See fact sheet here. Over 17,000 community members submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against the MVP during the public comment period, and over 21,000 submitted comments to FERC about the ACP. Additionally, over 53,000 people nationwide — including thousands of Virginians — have signed on to a Change.org petition calling on Governor McAuliffe to reject the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. Activists have garnered opposition from all walks of life, from faith leaders to military veterans and more. The mobilization against the pipelines has also included civil disobedience, with 23 Virginians getting arrested outside the Governor’s mansion in 2016 and 19 arrested for barring the entrance to the Department of Environmental Quality office in Richmond this September.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2017
CONTACT: Mike Tidwell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org
Anne Havemann, General Counsel, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-396-1984
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, 608-620-8819, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org

Environmental Groups Challenge Virginia’s Unlawful Approval of Fracked Gas Pipeline

Groups File Lawsuit Demanding a Serious Water Quality Analysis is Done

 

RICHMOND, VA — Today, a coalition of environmental groups filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to overturn Virginia’s unlawful approval of the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). Attorneys with Appalachian Mountain Advocates filed the litigation on behalf of the Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Wild Virginia.

Today’s action comes just a day after the Virginia State Water Control Board issued a certificate under the Clean Water Act that MVP needed to obtain to begin construction. The Board announced its decision on Thursday, at the conclusion of two days of contentious hearings. The Board takes up the same consideration for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline next week.

>> Today’s filing can be downloaded here.

The Board followed the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) recommendation to approve the project without requiring any assessment of how much pollution the pipeline would add to Virginia’s waters. The DEQ recognized that pipeline construction could cause significant harmful sedimentation in the steep, landslide-prone terrain crossed by the MVP, as have many other agencies and experts. Despite that, the Board concluded that erosion control plans–which the Board has not seen because they have yet to be developed–would protect water quality. Similar plans, however, have failed to prevent significant sediment pollution on pipeline construction projects in other states through much less challenging terrain.

Although construction of interstate gas infrastructure is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), individual states have the authority to protect their water from the impacts of fracked gas pipelines.

In response, Sierra Club Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign Director Kelly Martin released the following statement:

“The Mountain Valley Pipeline will cause severe sediment pollution in streams, springs, and waterways across Virginia, and not a single foot of pipe should be laid before the Commonwealth conducts a comprehensive analysis of the MVP’s water quality impacts. People, businesses and communities throughout Virginia depend on access to clean water and the Commonwealth should be looking out for them, not corporate polluters.”

Peter Anderson, Virginia Program Manager for Appalachian Voices said:

“We are extremely disappointed the Board voted to approve the pipeline without the information required to support its decision. Throughout the entire process, the DEQ sought to limit public participation, the information it shared with the Board, and the scope of the Board’s authority. The inevitable damage to water resources across our mountains is unacceptable, so we are taking our fight to the courts. We will stand up for the people whose water, homes, and livelihoods are threatened by the Mountain Valley Pipeline.”

Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, said:

“The Chesapeake Climate Action Network strongly condemns this decision, and the McAuliffe Administration’s support for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Virginians rightfully expected that a project this massive, which would cross hundreds of streams and tear through steep, mountainous terrain, would be subject to rigorous environmental review. Instead, the McAuliffe Administration pushed the Board to approve the pipeline with a promise of future analysis but without providing critical information. This rushed decision, if allowed to stand, will harm farmers, consumers, drinking water, and the climate and constitutes a colossal misallocation of resources.”

David Sligh, Conservation Director of Wild Virginia said:

“The Virginia State Water Control Board had a clear duty, to look at all potential impacts to state waters from the Mountain Valley Pipeline and make sure our water quality standards are upheld. Instead, the Board went along with the DEQ’s approach of arbitrarily segmenting its review and shirking its legal duties. This approach was clearly constructed by DEQ to avoid the conclusion that would come from a scientifically valid assessment – that this project cannot be built as proposed in a way that protects our waters and our communities.”

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Contact: 

Doug Jackson, 202.495.3045 or doug.jackson@sierraclub.org

Ben Luckett, 859.552.6979, bluckett@appalmad.org

Derek Teaney, 304.793.9007, dteaney@appalmad.org

Peter Anderson, 434-293-6373, peter@appvoices.org

Mike Tidwell, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

CCAN Condemns Approval for Mountain Valley Pipeline

Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Support for the MVP Pipeline Helps Doom Landowners While Dramatically Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Cementing the Governor’s Negative Legacy on the Environment

Statement from Mike Tidwell, Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network:

“Terry McAuliffe has harmed farmers, consumers, drinking water, and the climate by pushing the Virginia Water Control Board to give final approval today of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The 301-mile pipeline for fracked gas constitutes a colossal misallocation of resources and will permanently harm the Governor’s economic and environmental legacies.

“Even as the on-the-ground evidence shows guaranteed harm to Virginia’s watersheds, and even as scientists sound the loudest possible warning bells on climate change, the Water Control Board gave the Governor what he asked for: a final build recommendation. This decision paves the way for the literal obliteration of mountain ridgetops, the clear-cutting of forests, and for massive trenching and tunneling across valleys for a pipeline that is not even needed and that serves only to enrich energy companies while hurting ratepayers.

Governor McAuliffe made construction of the MVP pipeline a top priority of his term and his administration testified vigorously in support of the pipeline during the Water Board’s final two-day hearing this week.

Our hope is that the Water Board, next week, will ignore the Governor’s similarly misguided support of a second gas pipeline – the Atlantic Coast Pipeline favored by controversial political donor Dominion Energy – when the Board votes on that pipeline next Tuesday.”

 
Background:
Thousands of Virginians have mobilized over the past three years to stand against the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. See fact sheet here. Over 17,000 community members submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against the MVP during the public comment period. Activists have garnered opposition from all walks of life, from faith leaders to military veterans and more. The mobilization against the pipelines has also included civil disobedience, with 23 Virginians getting arrested outside the Governor’s mansion in 2016 and 19 arrested for barring the entrance to the Department of Environmental Quality office in Richmond this September.
The Water Control Board voted 5-2 to approve the pipeline with an amendment that attempts to preserve its right to examine stream crossings at a later date. This is an unprecedented permitting process and it’s unclear whether or not the Board’s attempt to protect water quality will be effective. 
 
CONTACT:
Mike Tidwell, Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org
Anne Havemann, General Counsel, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-396-1984

700 Anti-Pipeline Virginians Surround Capitol at Rally & Concert

 

Virginia Legislators, Landowners, Tribal Leaders and Environmental Advocates Surround Capitol Building, Urge Officials to Reject Fracked-Gas Pipelines

 

Hundreds of Virginians converged in Richmond for historic “Water is Life Rally and Concert” and a first-of-its-kind human circle around Capitol Grounds

Richmond, Va. — Upwards of 700 Virginians from all across the state joined with elected officials, a statewide coalition of environmental advocates, and indigenous tribal leaders today in Richmond for a historic demonstration against the proposed Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. Holding hands and ribbons of blue, the participants encircled the Capitol Grounds and called on state leaders — including Governor Terry McAuliffe and Governor-elect Ralph Northam — to protect Virginia’s water and reject the fracked-gas pipelines.
The “Water is Life Rally & Concert” comes four days before the State Water Control Board begins a series of public meetings on the Mountain Valley (Dec. 6 and 7) and Atlantic Coast (Dec. 11 and 12) pipelines, at which the board is expected to decide whether to approve water quality certifications for the projects.  The idea for the event sprang from the local groups along both pipeline routes as a way to unify their voices and send a single, strong message to state regulators that Virginians stand in solidarity to oppose the dangerous and unnecessary fracked-gas pipelines.  
Facebook album of photos and video by CCAN available for download here. 
Photos and a short video of event from Appalachian Voices available for download here.
Several speakers rallied the crowd, including Del. Sam Rasoul of Roanoke, one of several candidates who refused money from Dominion Energy — lead developer of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline — and other fossil fuel companies during the election. “I have the responsibility to speak up on behalf of my constituents and speak out against the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines,” Rasoul said. “I want to ensure that our communities’ drinking water remains safe, and our water sources are not jeopardized. Virginians know these pipelines would bring more harm than good. I urge Governor McAuliffe and the Water Control Board to reject the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines.”
After the rally,, the crowd followed an enormous Water Spirit Puppet created by All the Saints Theater Company to The National theater for a free concert. Delegate-elect Jennifer Carroll Foy of Woodbridge was the keynote speaker.
“More than ever, we need to protect our water and environment,” Foy said. “At Possum Point, only a few miles from my home, an old coal plant continues to leak toxic metals into our water supply because the coal ash has not been stored properly. We owe it to all of the families living in this area, including my husband and my infant twin boys, to fight for clean, safe drinking water.”
“I continue to have grave concerns about the clean water certificate approval process by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality for both the pipeline projects,” said Delegate-elect Chris Hurst, of Giles County. Both Hurst and Foy also refused Dominion money during the elections. “The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline could irreparably harm the drinking water of thousands of people in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. I will continue to speak out for my constituents and neighbors to advocate that more research and evaluation is done before DEQ allows this experimental project to continue.”
The concert featured a presentation by the First Nations Voice, including representatives of the Nottaway and Pamunkey tribes, a coalition of many Virginia tribes speaking out to defend their sacred ground and water, and performances by Lobo Marino, No BS! Brass Band and The Wild Common. The concert also featured a participatory water protection ritual in which children and landowners gathered water offerings from every corner of the state and made pledges on the way to go forward.
Other speakers at the event included:
Mary Beth Coffey, landowner in Bent Mountain: “The fracking companies behind Mountain Valley Pipeline said they have an ‘interest’ in my land. I know what this means: they’re condemning my property.  I’m saying no. Our water in Bent Mountain is irreplaceable. This is our Mother’s land. We intend to protect it for our Mother Earth.”
Brennan Gilmore of The Wild Common, a new band formed to welcome President Obama to Virginia in October: “We are here today to stand up against two unnecessary and dangerous pipelines that represent corporate interests but threaten the Virginia whose hills and valleys and rivers  gave birth to the musical traditions that we represent.”
David Sligh, former Senior Engineer at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and current Conservation Director at Wild Virginia: “The pipelines cannot be built as proposed  in ways that will comply with the Clean Water Act – period. That judgement is based on many years of experience by experts in a variety of technical and scientific disciplines. Where the McAuliffe administration has failed in its duty, we now must trust that the seven members of the State Water Control Board, citizens who have a solemn duty to obey the law and defend all citizens’ rights, will heed the clear scientific evidence and legal guidelines and reject these harmful projects.”
Pastor Paul Wilson, minister of Union Hill Baptist Church: “These pipelines are an atrocity of justice. The fracking companies want to poison the communities least equipped to speak up and fight for themselves. I refuse to allow them to treat my neighbors like sacrificial lambs.”

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CONTACT:
Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-953-8672
Zach Jarjoura, Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, zachary.jarjoura@sierraclub.org, 662-292-5682
Denise Robbins, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org, 608-620-8819
Stacy Miller, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stacy@chesapeakeclimate.org, 518-852-0836
Mara Robbins, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, mara.robbins@gmail.com, 540-808-8357
 
The “Water is Life Rally and Concert” was put together by a broad coalition of organizations, including:
All the Saints Theater; Appalachian Voices; ARTivism Virginia; Augusta County Alliance; Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League; Bold Alliance; Bold Appalachia; Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Charlottesville Rising; Climate Action Alliance of the Valley; Concern for the New Generation; Divest RVA; Earth Allies Chapter of BREDL; Earth Folk Collective; Free Nelson; Friends of Augusta; Friends of Buckingham; Friends of Nelson; Guard N Flags; Healing Water RVA; Interfaith Power and Light; Journey the James; Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance; Oil Change International; Poets Against Pipelines; Preserve Floyd ; Preserve Giles; Preserve Rockbridge; Protect Our Water; RAPTORS (Rockingham Alliance for the Preservation & Transformation of Our Resources & Society); Richmond Food Not Bombs; RVA Interfaith Climate Justice League; Sediment Arts; Sierra Club Virginia Chapter; Virginia River Healers; Virginians Against Pipelines; Walking the Line: Into the Heart of Virginia; Wild Virginia
 
 
 

"Water is Life Rally and Concert" in Richmond Dec. 2

It’s time for the biggest public rally ever organized against the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines. Here’s our goal: To bring so many moms and dads and farmers and students to Richmond on Saturday December 2nd that we can literally form a human ring around the Capitol building and the Governor’s mansion.
This encirclement will be the first public action against the pipelines of its kind in Virginia’s history. After the rally, we’ll stick around for a concert at “The National” theater just two blocks away.
We have to be creative and loud on December 2nd because, frankly, time is running out. The State’s Water Control Board will hold final hearings in Richmond on the MVP (Dec 6-7) and the ACP (Dec 11-12). We’ll be putting pressure on the Water Control Board with our massive rally and we’ll be telling our new governor and House of Delegates that water is life and we intend to preserve it for all our children!

RSVP today! 

http://bit.ly/stop-va-pipelines

TAKE A BUS 

The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter is providing buses from three locations: Hampton Roads, Staunton, and Northern Virginia. Here are the details:

Hampton Roads

Northern Virginia

Pickup #1: Leesburg, VA

Pickup #2: Vienna, VA

Staunton

Harrisonburg / Charlottesville

Pickup #1: Harrisonburg

  • Time: 10:30 am
  • Location: JMU Memorial Hall, 395 South High Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Bus stop on north side of Memorial Hall (near the softball field)
  • Charlottesville pickup location (11:15am): Giant parking Lot, Rivanna Ridge on Pantops
  • RSVP: http://vasierra.club/waterislifestauntonbus

Pickup #2: Charlottesville

Roanoke (newly added!)

FIND PARKING

Below is a map of parking in downtown Richmond. (Click here for a downloadable PDF).

 

 

The Belltower is at the intersection of 9th and Bank Street.

 

The National Theater is at the intersection of 7th and Broad Street.

 

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The stunning Virginia election.

Turning the Tide on Dominion’s Power

We at CCAN are bleary-eyed today, reaching for extra coffee to get through the afternoon. But it was worth it last night. Like many of you, we stayed up late watching the final vote counts roll in from the Virginia races.
It’s big news, of course, that the next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general will all be leaders who take climate change very seriously.
But here’s the real earthquake: Fourteen candidates who won last night had rejected all financial contributions from Virginia’s biggest polluter and climate obstacle Dominion Energy during their campaign. Among the 16 House seats that flipped, 12 were won by candidates who took a pledge to reject Dominion money, as well as District 11 incumbent delegate Sam Rasoul who held his seat. Plus, Lieutenant Governor-elect Justin Fairfax also rejected Dominion’s money, a first for that office.
So on balance, the election was not just a rejection of Donald Trump and his divisive agenda. It was a rejection of Dominion and its radically pro-fossil fuel agenda. That’s the biggest news from last night, by far. 
Ralph Northam, of course, will be the next governor, and we’re excited to work with him. Northam is opposed to offshore drilling for oil and gas in Virginia. But more importantly, he supports using his regulatory authority as Governor to cap carbon dioxide emissions from all power plants in the Commonwealth. Northam will be able to implement such a carbon cap – first proposed by the current Governor Terry McAuliffe – in 2018. We will also never stop pushing for a rejection of the two monstrous fracked-gas pipelines proposed for Virginia that threaten our climate, water, and property rights. Northam will have the authority to reject these pipelines, and he has not made a decision yet.
The re-election of Attorney General Mark Herring is also good news. He’s good on climate issues and we’ll need him to work hard to defend Virginia’s proposed carbon cap against the inevitable lawsuits from polluting industries.
And then there’s the House of Delegates again. Democrats picked up 16 seats in the House to create a 50-50 split with Republicans. We’re a nonpartisan group. We support leaders of all parties who fight climate change, and we were particularly sad to see climate champion, Delegate Ron Villanueva (R-Virginia Beach), lose last night.
But, on balance, last night’s winners are leaps and bounds better on climate issues than the Republicans they’re replacing. With a 50-50 split and with a couple of recounts that could actually give Democrats a slight pro-climate majority, we could finally see passage of CCAN’s top legislative priority for the past three years: The Virginia Coastal Protection Act. This bill would use the revenue generated from any cap on carbon pollution – hundreds of millions of dollars per year – to help the cities and counties of coastal Virginia adapt to appalling flooding already happening there due to climate change. The bill would also invest in energy efficiency and solar power statewide and retrain coal-industry workers in Southwest Virginia.
With a Virginia Senate pretty much evenly divided between the parties, and with Dominion Energy losing political clout, it’s not unrealistic to expect the Virginia Coastal Protection Act could reach the Governor’s desk in the near future. Northam himself is from the coast.
So we should all pause to give thanks. Thank the 13 House candidates who rejected Dominion Energy’s dirty money and WON, thus changing the legislative landscape in Richmond. And send a thank you to Lieutenant Governor-elect Justin Fairfax for doing the same. 
There’s much more work to be done, of course, to hold all our elected officials accountable in the near future. Which means citizens like you will need to stay informed and engaged on energy policies big and small. That’s where we come in. The Chesapeake Climate Action Network has never been more encouraged by the prospect for climate progress in Virginia than we are right now. We will keep you posted on all fronts.
But for now, send that note of thanks. And take a time to celebrate your victory – our victory – in Virginia last night.

Here’s a list of all the candidates who won last night who took Activate Virginia’s pledge to refuse contributions from Dominion:

  1. Justin Fairfax, elected Lieutenant Governor
  2. Del. Sam Rasoul, incumbent winner of District 11
  3. Jennifer Foy, winner of District 2
  4. Wendy Gooditis, winner of District 10
  5. Danica Roem, winner of District 13
  6. Kelly Fowler, winner of District 21
  7. Elizabeth Guzman, winner of District 31
  8. Kathy Tran, winner of District 42
  9. Lee Carter, winner of District 50
  10. Haya Ayala, winner of District 51
  11. Dawn Adams, winner of District 68
  12. Schuyler VanValkenburg, winner of District 72
  13. Debra Rodman, winner of District 73
  14. Cheryl Turpin, winner of District 85

Dereliction of Duty: WVDEP Abandons Water Quality Review of Fracked Gas Pipeline

State Surrenders to Fossil Fuel Industry Instead of Protecting Health of West Virginians

CHARLESTON, WV — Today, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) waived its opportunity to review the water quality impacts of the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline. Under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, states must certify that proposed pipelines will not violate state water quality standards before construction can begin. DEP has the responsibility to determine whether or not to issue that certification for West Virginia, but announced today they are abdicating that responsibility.

DEP previously certified the MVP, but in response to a lawsuit brought by Appalachian Mountain Advocates on behalf of a coalition of environmental groups, a federal court set aside that certification and allowed DEP to start over. That coalition is now exploring legal strategies in response to today’s news.

In response, Sierra Club West Virginia Chapter Gas Committee Chair Justin Raines issued this statement:

“Instead of protecting West Virginia’s water, DEP has sold us down the river. They had one job to do and they failed to do it, leaving our water in the hands of the federal government and out-of-state corporate polluters who are more interested in making money than protecting West Virginians. If we can’t trust our own state to protect our water, health and tourism, who can we trust to do it? Governor Justice and his DEP have let us all down by abandoning the responsibilities we trusted them with.”

Derek Teaney, Senior Attorney at Appalachian Mountain Advocates, issued this statement:

“This is an outrageous and unprecedented dereliction of duty by DEP. After assuring a federal court that it was committed to reconsidering whether the MVP would degrade the hundreds of streams that it would impact, DEP has thrown up its hands and admitted that it is not up to the task of protecting West Virginia’s environment. This action suggests that DEP does not believe in the laws–including the antidegradation policy–that it is charged with enforcing. It also makes you wonder whether DEP intends to give the Atlantic Coast Pipeline–the other ill-conceived pipeline project it is currently reviewing–the same free pass it has just given to MVP.”

Judy Azulay, Indian Creek Watershed Association President, issued this statement:

“It’s incomprehensible that DEP is not using the authority granted to it by the West Virginia legislature to protect our water. Instead of issuing enforceable conditions for the 401 permit, DEP allows MVP to pen its own free pass to pollute. Instead of overseeing this unprecedented construction project, DEP turns a blind eye to the evidence documented in annotated maps and reports submitted by Indian Creek and other organizations and West Virginians identifying specific areas where the MVP would cause unacceptable degradation of our water. How can our Governor and his appointees allow DEP to abandon its mission and turn its back on the people and our natural resources?”

Angie Rosser, Executive Director, West Virginia Rivers Coalition said:

“DEP is a taxpayer-supported agency whose job is to protect public health and the environment. But when it came to one of the biggest projects DEP needed to review to protect water quality, the agency quit on the citizens of the state. We often hear from our political leaders that we don’t need federal agencies to regulate, that the state can handle it. But waiving their authority to do so is no way to handle it. It appears that political favor to industry has won the day over the agency’s responsibility to do everything in its power to protect the public’s right to clean water.”

Anne Havemann, General Counsel, Chesapeake Climate Action Network said:

“Shame on WVDEP Director Austin Caperton and Governor Jim Justice. After directing agency staff to spend over a year’s worth of time, effort, and taxpayer money to look at the impacts to waterways from the massive Mountain Valley Pipeline, they’ve passed the buck to the federal government knowing full well that the pipeline won’t get the thorough review such a massive project deserves. West Virginia’s decision to waive its right to protect hundreds of streams and rivers from MVP is a complete abdication of its duty and a irreparable breach of the public’s trust.

Peter Anderson, Virginia Program Manager, Appalachian Voices said:

“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission clearly stated in its Mountain Valley Pipeline Order that construction may not commence without a water quality certification from each state and that states may impose additional conditions to protect water quality. By waiving its opportunity to do that, the WVDEP has utterly failed to fulfill its mission to preserve, protect, and enhance the state’s watersheds for the benefit and safety of all its citizens. West Virginians deserve better, and they certainly deserve clean water every bit as much as citizens of other states.”

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Contact:
Doug Jackson, 202.495.3045 or doug.jackson@sierraclub.org
Derek Teaney, 304.646.1182 or dteaney@appalmad.org

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

 

About Appalachian Mountain Advocates

Appalachian Mountain Advocates is a non-profit law and policy center dedicated to fighting for clean water and a clean energy future. Appalmad has a long history of winning precedent-setting court cases and negotiating costly settlements. The organization has secured hundreds of millions of dollars towards conserving natural areas and treating polluted water. We have worked for more than 15 years to ensure that the fossil fuel industry cannot continue to dump its costs of doing business onto the public. For more information, visit www.appalmad.org.

 

About Indian Creek Watershed Association

Indian Creek Watershed Association is a non-profit community based organization whose mission is to preserve and protect Monroe County’s abundant, pure water. For more information, visit www.IndianCreekWatershedAssociation.org.

 

About the West Virginia Rivers Coalition

West Virginia Rivers Coalition is a statewide non-profit organization promoting the conservation and restoration of West Virginia’s exceptional rivers and streams. Since 1989, it has served as the statewide voice for clean, healthy waters for all to use and enjoy. For more information, visit www.wvrivers.org.

 

About the Chesapeake Climate Action Network

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the first grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in the Chesapeake region. Our mission is to build a diverse movement powerful enough to put our region on the path to climate stability. We envision an equitable energy future where truly clean sources of power — efficiency, solar and wind — sustain every aspect of our lives, and dirty fossil fuels are phased out. For more information, visitwww.chesapeakeclimate.org.

 

About Appalachian Voices

Appalachian Voices is a leading force in America’s energy transformation, working at the nexus of the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy for the the 21st Century.  As a grassroots and advocacy organization rooted deeply in Appalachia, we defend the region from mountaintop removal coal mining, fracked-gas pipeline building, and other harmful practices while promoting clean energy sources that generate local jobs and community wealth, and sustain Appalachia’s incomparable natural heritage.  For more information, visit www.appvoices.org.