Landowners announce pipeline “camp” to stop Dominion

Landowners Announce “Encampment” in Bath County to Stop Dominion’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Preserve Unique Old Growth Forest

Hundreds of activists expected as part of the “No Pipeline Summer” camp on the Limperts’ property.

Action represents the newest “front line” against radical fracked-gas pipelines, builds on recent court-ordered delay of MVP pipeline

RICHMOND, VA – Virginia landowners Bill and Lynn Limpert today announced a summer-long “encampment” on their property in Bath County dedicated to stopping Dominion Energy’s proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The proposed pipeline right of way would destroy hundreds of old growth trees — some as old as 300 years — on the Limperts’ land and construction would decapitate much of a 3000-foot-long ridge on their land.

B-roll footage links here and here. Photos available upon request.

The encampment — called “No Pipeline Summer: Camp to Save the Limperts’ Land” — is expected to draw hundreds of short- and long-term campers who will maintain a continuous presence on and along the proposed route of Dominion’ Atlantic Coast Pipeline for the duration of the summer and into the fall. The protest is expected to draw concerned citizens from across the state and region, including high-profile public leaders and national celebrities, to this exceptionally iconic landscape directly in the path of Dominion’s unneeded and harmful fracked-gas pipeline.

“We are happy to invite folks to our property on beautiful Miracle Ridge,” said Bill Limpert, property owner in Bath County who is hosting the encampment. “Together we will share the beauty of our old growth forest, walk under the ancient trees, and learn about the devastating negative impacts that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline would bring to us, our neighbors, and tens of thousands of others on or near the proposed route.”

The Limperts were joined by leaders of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, which is helping to coordinate the encampment and also involved in lawsuits against the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines.

Last week, the Fourth Circuit issued a stay of a crucial permit that the Mountain Valley Pipeline needs to build across waterways. Anne Havemann, Senior Counsel at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated: “The problem is that Mountain Valley cannot comply with a West Virginia condition that requires stream crossings to be completed in 72 hours, rendering the entire permit issued by the Army Corps of Engineers invalid. Like MVP, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline can’t cross certain streams within 72 hours, calling its same Army Corps permit into question. Campers who travel to Bath County this summer will call on the Army Corps and other decision makers to suspend these invalid permits and take a closer look at the impacts. We’re confident a full review will lead them to conclude that there simply is no safe way to build the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.”

“Ultimately all of us are at risk from the catastrophic impacts of climate change that this and other natural gas pipelines would bring, so it is important to come together to draw attention to what is at stake,” said Limpert.

CONTACT:

Denise Robbins, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org; 608-620-8819
Bill Limpert, wflimpert@gmail.com
Mike Tidwell, Director, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-460-5838

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BREAKING: 4th Circuit Stays Essential Permit for Fracked Gas Mountain Valley Pipeline

Construction Activities Must Be Halted

RICHMOND, VA — Today, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of a crucial permit that the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) needs to build across waterways.

Under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is charged with issuing a permit for the pipeline’s stream crossings that allows the project’s builders to trench through the bottom of those streams, including the Greenbrier, Elk, and Gauley rivers, and fill the crossings with dirt during construction of the pipeline. The permit issued to the Mountain Valley Pipeline by the Corps is commonly known as a “nationwide permit 12,” which takes a one-size-fits-all approach.

The MVP is a 300-mile-long, 42-inch pipeline requiring a 125-foot right of way construction zone that would cross streams, rivers and other waters in West Virginia and Virginia more than 1,000 times. Because MVP’s own documents shows it cannot meet the conditions required under the nationwide 404 permit in West Virginia, the streamlined permit issued by the Army Corps of Engineers is unlawful. The effect of today’s court order is to prohibit MVP from construction activities in 591 streams and wetlands in West Virginia and it may affect construction along the entire route of the pipeline. Under its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorization, pipeline construction is allowed only if MVP has secured all federal authorizations.

The court issued the ruling in response to a motion filed by a coalition of environmental advocates, represented by Appalachian Mountain Advocates.

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

“Today’s decision shows once again that the Nationwide Permit 12 cannot be used as a one size fits all approach for dirty and dangerous pipelines that pose serious threats to our communities and clean water. Construction on the Mountain Valley Pipeline must be halted immediately as the case to protect our water and communities proceeds.”

West Virginia Rivers Coalition Executive Director Angie Rosser released the following statement:

“It brings a sense of relief to see this pause button hit. What we’re seeing is that short-cuts and easy-outs just won’t work for this massive project. Already with MVP, we’re seeing its early construction causing problems for our waters. It’s encouraging that the court agrees a more intensive review of this permit is required before risking any further damage.”

Chesapeake Climate Action Network General Counsel Anne Havemann released the following statement:

“Today’s decision is a validation of what we’ve been saying for years: a one-size-fits-all permit is completely wrong for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The companies behind the harmful and unneeded MVP have pushed regulators to approve key permits such as this one without considering the full scope of its destruction. Today’s court-mandated pause is a welcome opportunity for regulators to take a real look at the impacts of this massive project, which we’re confident will lead them to conclude that there simply is no safe way to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline.”

Appalachian Voices Virginia Program Manager Peter Anderson released the following statement:

“Putting the breaks on in-stream construction activity for the Mountain Valley Pipeline while the court performs its full review not only makes sense, it is also the only just outcome for communities directly impacted by this destructive project. MVP’s inability to cross rivers in compliance with the conditions of the permit is the most obvious – but certainly not the only – reason why blanket permits should not be used for projects of this size. An individual permit considering the full impact of constructing a 42-inch diameter pipeline through steep terrain and sensitive water bodies should be required.”

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.

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

STATEMENT: Va surveilling of pipeline protest groups is “unacceptable”

Statement from the CCAN Action Fund and Preserve Floyd on Virginia’s State Surveillance of Pipeline Protest Groups

Groups Call on Gov. Northam to Immediately Order the Virginia Fusion Center to End All Surveillance

On Friday, June 1, 2018, the Richmond Times Dispatch revealed that the “Virginia Fusion Center,” a state government network whose mission is to defend the Commonwealth against terrorist threats and deter criminal activity, has instead been using its vital resources to monitor the activities of purely peaceful environmental, social justice, and anti-pipeline groups and then report those activities directly to the developer of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.  

In response, CCAN Action Fund and Preserve Floyd issued the following statement:

“The documents reported on by the Richmond Times Dispatch reveal that the state is working with EQT, the developer of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, to surveil and monitor purely peaceful groups who support clean energy, work for climate justice, and oppose the Mountain Valley Pipeline. This is unacceptable. In our America, you should be able to participate in a protest about an issue you care about without having to worry that government operatives are watching you and reporting your activities directly to a private company that is building an unwanted and unneeded pipeline through Virginians’ waterways, beloved mountains, and treasured forests. Our groups are fiercely dedicated the time-honored tradition of peaceful protest. The idea that our activities, which include prayer vigils, peaceful sit-ins, and music concerts, rise to the level of “violent extremism” would be laughable if it weren’t so chilling. This spying is un-American and an enormous waste of taxpayer money.

“Harm is being inflicted on Virginians, but it’s not from these peaceful groups that work with Virginians to raise concerns about this disastrous pipeline. It’s EQT that is causing the harm. The company proposes to build a dangerous and unnecessary 300-mile-long pipeline that would rip through national forests, tear down pristine mountain ridges, and cross the Appalachian Trail. It’s EQT that is turning landowners into trespassers on their own property by seizing land through eminent domain. It’s EQT’s pipeline that prompted government agents to deny food, water, and medical consultation to pipeline opponents who were peacefully sitting in trees in an attempt to stop the pipeline from tearing through their property and beloved mountains. It’s EQT’s Mountain Valley Pipeline that poses the real threat to Virginians, not our nonviolent organizations.

“We call on Governor Ralph Northam and other relevant state leaders to immediately order the Virginia Fusion Center to end all surveillance of peaceful pipeline protesters. This activity is unacceptable and just further highlights the moral disgrace of the pipeline itself.”

CONTACT:
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, CCAN Action Fund, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org, 608-620-8810
Mara Robbins, Preserve Floyd, mara.robbins@gmail.com, 540-808-8357

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Pipeline Opponents Protest Dominion with Kite Action at Annual Riverrock Festival

PRESS RELEASE: May 21, 2018
CONTACT:
Jessica Sims, jessicaleesims@gmail.com, 804-356-1228
Jamshid Bakhtiari, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, jamshid@chesapeakeclimate.org,
Denise Robbins, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org, 608-620-8819

Pipeline Opponents Protest Dominion with Kite Action at Annual Riverrock Festival

Environmental activists flew kites targeting Dominion against pipelines and corporate corruption

 
RICHMOND, Virginia– On Sunday, May 20, a group of activists protested Dominion Energy’s annual Riverrock festival to stand against its role in Virginia’s political system and draw attention to the dangers that would come with its proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The activists flew kites with messages opposing Dominion Energy and its proposed fracked-gas pipeline.

To see photos, please see here.

This event took place as Dominion faces increased scrutiny over its energy policies and political influence. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline particularly has garnered widespread opposition across the region. Tens of thousands of Virginia residents have sent petitions to Governor Ralph Northam opposing this pipeline and the similar Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Additionally, the band Blush Face refused to play at the Riverrock festival. The band stated that it “didn’t want to get involved with any kind of river celebration Dominion put on because of their actions and support of the pipeline campaigns and coal ash disposal. Although they claim to give back to the community and pretend to care about our river, we feel that Riverrock is more of a facade. We love celebrating music and everything outdoors, but we don’t love where Dominion’s interests are with those things. They pollute our shared resources and threaten our home for their corporate interest and we don’t want to play at their party.”
Last year,  48 percent of Dominion shareholders voted in favor of a resolution calling on the company’s board of directors to report on how the company will address climate change. This is far more support than similar shareholder resolutions have ever achieved.

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CCAN Statement: Atlantic Coast Pipeline Setback Proves its Environmental Impacts are Unacceptable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/16/18
CONTACT:
Anne Havemann, General Counsel, 202-997-2466, anne@chesapeakeclimate.org
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, 608-620-8819, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org

CCAN Statement: Atlantic Coast Pipeline Setback Proves its Environmental Impacts are Unacceptable

RICHMOND, VA — Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit threw out a key permit granted to Dominion Energy’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline, finding that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Incidental Take Statement,” meant to protect threatened and endangered species, was inadequate. The court found that the limits set by the agency were “so indeterminate that they undermine the [permit’s] enforcement monitoring function under the Endangered Species Act.” Without this permit, all on-the-ground construction must stop in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia because other federal permits are contingent on the FWS permit. The Southern Environmental Law Center argued the case on behalf of the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and Virginia Wilderness Committee.
Anne Havemann, General Counsel at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated in response:
“This decision is a validation of what we’ve been saying for years: The environmental impacts of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline are huge and unacceptable. The only way we know we can protect our environment and our climate is to stop the pipeline from being built.
“The impacts of Dominion’s aggressive push to get regulators to approve this unwanted and unnecessary pipeline without the proper reviews are finally catching up to the company. In addition to yesterday’s court decision, state regulators in Virginia who were pushed to approve the Atlantic Coast Pipeline without complete environmental plans from Dominion have opened up yet another public comment period on stream crossings. Yesterday’s decision is just one in what we expect will be a long line of setbacks for Dominion’s reckless pipeline plans.”
 

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CCAN Statement: PSC Approves Hogan's Fracked Gas Expansion Plan

CCAN Statement: Hogan-Appointed PSC Members Approve AltaGas Merger That Supports Governor’s Fracked-Gas Expansion While Harming Consumers

The Chair of the PSC Dissents in the Commission’s Controversial 4-1 Vote, Saying Deal Creates “Impermissible Financial Risk” for Consumers and Ignores Grave Environmental Concerns

BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a harmful merger today between Canadian company AltaGas and local utility Washington Gas that opens Maryland’s doors to large amounts of fracked gas from neighboring Pennsylvania and West Virginia and threatens Maryland’s progress on climate. A main goal of the merger and related settlement commitments is to “kick-start” a natural gas expansion across Maryland. As scientists confirm that fracked gas is essentially as harmful to the climate as coal, the PSC’s approval of the Hogan Administration’s merger terms sets the state back in its effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions and move toward clean energy.
PSC Chair Kevin Hughes blasted the 4-1 decision in an unusually sharp dissenting note. Hughes warned of both immediate and long-term economic harm from the deal, including the likely downgrading of WGL’s credit rating. WGL is the parent company of Washington Gas. Hughes also criticized the four Hogan-appointed commissioners for ignoring environmental advocates who submitted comments warning that the settlement was “contrary to the State’s policy on greenhouse gas reduction and its commitment to clean energy.”

The merger agreement opens the door to AltaGas spending $70 million to promote pipeline construction and other fracked-gas infrastructure in the state with the possibility of charging the full cost to ratepayers. Additionally, AltaGas is mandated to fulfill a settlement pledge with the Hogan Administration to put $33 million into a fund to be administered by the state of Maryland to assist additional gas companies with the construction of more fracked-gas pipelines across Maryland.

In March, CCAN and 15 other Maryland-based groups filed formal comments with the Public Service Commission arguing that instead of kick-starting a natural gas expansion throughout Maryland — which runs contrary to Maryland’s commitment to clean energy and greenhouse gas reductions, puts public health and safety at risk, and exposes the state to litigation — the PSC should instead redirect those funds to fixing methane leaks in the state. The letter described the failures of Maryland’s current leak-detection program and urged the PSC to direct funds to fixing the Maryland’s existing program or to funding a new program.

The Hogan-appointed commissioners did nothing to address the commenters’ concerns. The commissioners absurdly stated that the environmental comments could not be addressed in the PSC proceeding. The commissioners claimed that the comments were submitted after the official record was closed even though environmental groups submitted them during the established comment period for the settlement agreement. As Chairman Hughes pointedly noted in his dissent: “Given that the [Hogan Administration’s] gas expansion proposal was made late in the proceedings, and after the close of the Commission’s initial evidentiary hearings, the majority should have considered and addressed these environmental concerns in the context of the public interest test.”

In response, Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, issued the following statement:

“This merger is a terrible deal for Marylanders’ pocketbooks and for climate change policy. Spearheaded by the Hogan Administration, the merger mandates that $33 million be invested in fracked-gas pipelines and combustion throughout Maryland. And another $70 million in fracked-gas investments could be charged to consumers down the road, per the Governor’s wish. Almost exactly a year ago, Hogan signed a ban on fracking for gas in Maryland, a move that was supported by a strong majority of Maryland residents. Marylanders know that gas fracked in Pennsylvania is just as devastating to public health, the environment, and the climate as gas fracked in Maryland. Today, the Hogan Administration has kicked the doors down for more fracked-gas infrastructure and gas combustion all across Maryland.”

CONTACT:
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, 608-620-8819, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, Director, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org
Anne Havemann, General Counsel, 202-997-2466, anne@chesapeakeclimate.org

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CCAN Statement: Northam DEQ announcement raises serious concerns

CCAN “Highly Skeptical” That DEQ Head can Lead its Own Internal Review; Calls on Paylor to Recuse Himself

RICHMOND, VA — Today, Governor Northam announced Executive Order 6, which instructs David Paylor, Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, to perform a comprehensive review of DEQ’s permitting, monitoring, and enforcement activities.
Mike Tidwell, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated:

“We agree with Governor Northam that the Department of Environmental Quality needs to be seriously reformed, so we commend him for that. However, we are highly skeptical that DEQ Director David Paylor can oversee this internal review in a fair and comprehensive manner.

“The DEQ is a broken agency, and Director David Paylor is the one that broke it. In his 12 years running the agency, he has regularly sided with polluters over the environment. He has accepted gifts from mega-polluter Dominion Energy and permitted polluter-friendly practices across the Commonwealth.

“The timing of this announcement is particularly painful for the landowners who live along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline for fracked gas, to which DEQ just gave final approval in a process widely viewed as flawed.

“We believe David Paylor should be replaced as DEQ Director. If Governor Northam keeps him on, however, Paylor should recuse himself from this much-needed agency review. We hope Governor Northam will consider turning the review over completely to the Secretary of Natural Resources in order to ensure real and substantive changes at the DEQ.”

CONTACT:
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, 608-620-8819, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, Director, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

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CCAN Calls On Governor Northam To Replace David Paylor as DEQ Head

RICHMOND, VA — Today, Governor Northam re-appointed David Paylor as director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Mike Tidwell, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated:

“Governor Northam has taken several positive steps since taking office to improve environmental protection and advocacy in the state. He has supported joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and has pushed Dominion Energy to invest more in renewable power and efficiency. But today, the Governor has seriously dropped the ball in re-appointing David Paylor as director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

“Any quick Google search of Paylor’s name brings up stories of serious controversy. In 12 years at the DEQ helm, Paylor has consistently sided with polluting industries over environmental advocacy groups. Paylor, above all else, is very, very cozy with the state’s biggest polluter, Dominion Energy. The director has outraged health and environmental leaders by siding with Dominion on the dumping of coal ash in rivers and, most notoriously, the construction of patently harmful pipelines for fracked gas like the ACP and MVP. Paylor barely hides his close connection to Dominion. In 2013, he accepted an all-expenses-paid trip from Dominion to the Masters Golf Tournament in Georgia, including a fully paid bar tab.

“Governor Northam, today, missed an important opportunity to take a concrete step forward for the environment by replacing Paylor with someone who truly values the protection of the environment. We call on the Governor to reconsider his decision and replace Paylor as soon as possible.”

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CONTACT:
Denise Robbins, Communications Director, 608-620-8819, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, Director, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

Pipeline Victory: FERC Denies Dominion’s Request to Extend Tree-Felling Deadline for Atlantic Coast Pipeline

RICHMOND, VA — Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a denial of the request by Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC to extend for two months the right to fell trees for the pipeline’s construction.

Mike Tidwell, Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, stated:

“It is a victory for the people of Virginia that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said ‘no’ to Dominion Energy’s radical request to cut down trees for a radical gas pipeline during the migratory bird nesting season. FERC has done the right thing in denying this request.

“If this decision stands, we are heartened that it would significantly delay the pipeline construction process. It is the hope of many landowners and environmental advocates that this delay may wind up being permanent. Governor Ralph Northam should understand that Dominion’s fracked-gas pipelines is not only bad for migratory birds and bats, but bad for all Virginians who want clean water, clean air, and a stable climate.”

 

CONTACT:

Denise Robbins, Communications Director, 608-620-8819, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org
Mike Tidwell, Director, 240-460-5838, mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org

 

Thousands call on Gov. Northam to protect Virginia waters from fracked-gas pipelines

Event comes on heels of after-hours DEQ announcement to allow MVP construction

Richmond, Va. — Citizens representing Virginia landowners, the faith community, scientists, people of color, water protectors and clean energy advocates today called on Governor Ralph Northam to protect Virginia’s waters by taking immediate action on the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. The action comes the morning after Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality approved water pollution plans for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, paving the way for its construction.
At a press conference at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square, citizens presented the Northam administration with 10,000 petition signatures signed by Virginian residents. The signatories call on the governor to protect the drinking water supplies of countless Virginians from the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines, which would cross streams and other waters more than 1,400 times across the state.

For high-resolution photos (available shortly), please contact Cat McCue at cat@appvoices.org or 434-953-8672

The group also presented a petition from Change.org with more than 62,000 signatures from other concerned citizens from around the country calling on Governor Northam to reject the pipelines. In addition to the projects’ tremendous climate impacts that affect all Americans, the projects bisect national treasures including the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, and many miles of national forest land.
The petition demands that the Northam administration immediately halt the ongoing tree-felling along the routes, allow the public to review and comment on the erosion and stormwater control plans before they are finalized by the Department of Environmental Quality, and take action to ensure the state analyzes individual stream impacts, rather than the Trump administration’s Corps of Engineers.
Just yesterday evening, at 7 p.m., the Department of Environmental Quality announced it had finalized the water plans for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, authorizing the start of land-disturbing activities, without letting the public have one last chance to provide feedback on the critical water pollution plans.
“Citizens all along the MVP route have spent years educating themselves about this project and its potential impacts — everything is at stake for them. They’ve been asking Gov. Northam and his administration for one more chance to review these critical water pollution control plans before the DEQ finalized them and allowed construction to proceed. In an affront to all Virginians, this decision shut them out,” said Peter Anderson, Virginia Program Manager with Appalachian Voices.
“My question for Governor Northam is simple: did you really mean it when you said the DEQ reviews had to be thorough, transparent, and based on science? The science is clear – these projects will be the most damaging for Virginia’s waters in decades. It is time to turn your words into action,” said David Sligh with Wild Virginia.
“Governor Northam promised to hold these dangerous pipelines to the highest environmental standards,” said Jamshid Bakhtiari, Virginia Field Coordinator at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Now, we’re seeing him already go back on this promise. The DEQ will allow the Mountain Valley Pipeline to begin construction, threatening the communities of countless Virginians, without allowing for any further public input. These pipelines will lock us into fossil fuels for decades if Governor Northam doesn’t take action. Thousands and thousands of concerned residents in Virginia — and across the country — are watching.”
“The plans approved for the Mountain Valley Pipeline are not environmentally sound and, from an engineering standpoint, will not sufficiently protect the environment and our drinking water from the pipeline’s construction impacts,” Kirk Bowers, Professional Engineer and Pipelines Program Coordinator for the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, said. “Sierra Club had to utilize a Freedom of Information Act request in order to fully review the plans and come to these conclusions. Leaving those in the public without the financial and legal resources to use the FOIA in the dark is absolutely unacceptable. All Virginians should have had a chance to review and evaluate these plans for the Mountain Valley Pipeline and should get the chance for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.”
At the press conference, the citizens handed the petitions to the Administration’s office. They held different color survey tape to show the average 125-foot width of pipeline tree-felling and construction, and the 50-foot permanent right-of-way that will scar hundreds of miles of mountains, farms and fields through the commonwealth. They also held several large posters with pictures showing some of the places the pipelines will impact as well as pictures of failed erosion controls on other pipeline projects in mountainous terrain.
The event was organized by Appalachian Voices, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Natural Resources Defense Council, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, and Wild Virginia.

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Contact:
Lara Mack, Appalachian Voices, lara@appvoices.org 540-246-9720 (m)
Jamshid Bahktiari, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, jamshid@chesapeakeclimate.org 757-386-8107
Kirk Bowers, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, kirk.bowers@sierraclub.org 434- 249 1439