The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) “should not accept the Cornelian
dilemma presented by Dominion’s poorly planned route that pits mountain forests on protected
lands against the same mountain forests on protected lands,” states a motion filed with the
agency on October 13. The motion was filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center on
behalf of the Shenandoah Valley Network, Highlanders for Responsible Development,
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and Natural Resources Defense Council.
The issue arises out of a proposal by Dominion Transmission, Inc., managing partner for
the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, to cross eleven properties in Virginia with conservation
easements held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF). The motion argues:

The proposed conversion of conservation easement land would be the largest ever
undertaken in Virginia and would seriously undermine public trust in the state’s
conservation easement program.
Dominion’s proposal is inconsistent with Virginia state law.

While VOF has not yet taken action on the proposal, the agency, along with the affected
easement donors, local governments and land trusts throughout the Commonwealth do not
support Dominion’s proposal.

FERC Asked to Reject ACP Route Through Conservation Easements

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.