Eight Rivers Council Update for March 2017
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1. REMINDER!!! The DEIS comment period for the ACP ends April 6. Even if you have made comments in the past, you may add more detail or comment further. You can submit via email or by mailed letter, just remember the April 6 cut deadline. If you need ideas, just read some of the comments others have written. I’ve attached a detailed example by Tolly Peuleche, but please do not feel obligated to go into as much detail as she did. You do not need to specifically cite the DEIS, it is 2300 pages, although reference to its points can be helpful.
Especially helpful are items that are not covered adequately by the DEIS, and matters that you have special insight or specific knowledge about. This includes streams, karst, caves, steep slopes susceptible to erosion, cemeteries, historical places, and water sources. These places were often commented upon to FERC yet were ignored or inadequately addressed in the DEIS. See the attached PDF Comments Guides.
2. Thank you to all who participated in the public comment meetings in Elkins and Marlinton! We estimate over 40 comments at each venue.
3. Property owners along the ACP route should be encouraged to hold tight and not deal with Dominion Landsmen to sell easements. This is the advice of Appalachian Mountain Advocates, a legal firm that will pro bono (free) represent landowners.
4. Liz Kammeyer has set up a dedicated Facebook site against the ACP for Randolph and Pocahontas. https://www.facebook.com/Alleghenies-Against-the-ACP-1553713861324651/ Email Liz Kammeyer or Ricki Caruth or Margaret Worth to put on content such as photos, interviews, upcoming events, information. Social media will help keep us motivated, informed, and united. Help us on this.
5. We could use a Letter to the Editor of the Pocahontas Times every week on various topics related to the ACP. Topics could include personal stories on how the ACP would impact your business, quality of life, or property value; the hazard of living in a Blast Zone (incineration and evacuation areas); negative economic impacts on our communities; the unfairness of eminent domain for private gain; the fact that FERC has not established “need” for these pipelines since there is already sufficient supply and infrastructure projected for the future; how there would be no permanent jobs or gas; and the effect of pipelines on pollution, methane leakage, and on increasing fracking; steep slopes subject to landslides and sedimentation into streams. As an example, Tom Epling of the Cass area wrote an excellent Letter published in the Pocahontas Times (linked online here).
6. Barbara Adams, producer of Troubled Waters: Voices From Bath, and Marino Colmano, producer of a series of pipeline films including Monroe Speaks, are interested in showing their excellent films in our area. This would entail getting a lot of publicity to gain a sizable audience. Are there people interested in further pursuing this?
7. Keep abreast with news by subscribing to weekly ABRA reports or archived at their website. Eight Rivers Council archives the reports, too. Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition has excellent mapping and other information. Greenbrier River Watershed Association and West Virginia Rivers Coalition are among many fine groups working against the ACP
8. According to Autumn Crowe, ACP has submitted their applications for the state permits and DEP has deemed them complete. Be on the lookout for the public comment period. It will be 30 days and there should be a few public hearings scheduled. More details then on how to respond.
Autumn also says West Virginia Rivers Coalition will be hosting a public forum on efforts for source water and watershed protection in Marlinton April 27th, 5-7pm. More details soon.
West Virginia Rivers Coalition has recently created the Citizen's Guide to Fracking Permits in West Virginia. The Citizen's Guide will help you understand and get involved in the permitting process. Download the Citizen's Guide here. In addition, a free webinar on the Citizens Guide on Wednesday April 12 from 1-3. Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1401986558402369795
9. West Virginia University is conducting a Water Quality Survey. Researchers are asking you for your opinions on water quality in West Virginia with special interest in understanding your perceptions of the quality of both yourdrinking water at home and water in streams, rivers and lakes in West Virginia.
The questionnaire has 27 questions, and should take only 15 minutes of time to complete. Responses are voluntary and will be kept anonymous. http://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cJjzghHvTKSXxsx
10. Consider writing a letter or email in support of the U.S. Forest Service taking a professional approach in reviewing the ACPs’ proposed route through the national forests. Send statements of support to Forest Service Chief, Thomas Tidwell, , Regional Foresters, Kathleen Atkinson, , Tony Tooke, and Forest Supervisor Clyde Thompson, ACP is pressuring the USFS to modify their forest plan, while the USFS contend they need to follow the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards on a timetable and thoroughness within their own capacity.
11. On another note, increased efforts are being made in Congress to hand over national public lands to states or in competitive auction. The majority of Americans would oppose their national forests, BLM lands, wildlife refuges transferred to states or private hands, but these efforts to plunder our national lands are receiving little attention. States would not be able to financially manage such transferred lands and would be tempted to heavily mine or timber them, or sell to private interests.
An effort to advocate to protect the Monongahela National Forest from such an assault is being launched Thursday April 6 at the Yew Mountain Center located at 9494 Lobelia Road, Hillsboro, WV. Start time about 6 pm. Potlock supper, informational/organizational meeting, and music jam. Join in.
12. I have heard talk that the ACP is a “done deal.” Not so. We are in the DEIS comment stage. The projected release of the EIS is this summer, projected in June but likely later. Then another comment period, before a certificate for construction could be issued. Our legal folks believe that ACP will get a certificate which will then be challenged in court on legal grounds for inadequate adherence to NEPA requirements. If indeed FERC has "nod, wink" approved the pipeline off the record, then the corruption and collusion would be felonious. So let’s keep our heads up and push forward. Renewable energy including improved battery storage capacity is quickly developing, so let’s work for delays in gas infrastructure. And remember, we are taking a stand of integrity for future citizens.
Do not despair! There are thousands of committed people across our multi-state region who are digging in to win this battle against the ACP. As patriots defending our neighborhoods and communities, we represent our children’s future and our nation’s promise.
Thank you for your advocacy for clean water, beautiful scenery, healthy ecosystem, property protection, and responsive government. We are strong when we stand together!
--Allen Johnson
Eight Rivers Council