The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency for a high-level meeting to discuss more comprehensive climate reviews of proposed natural gas pipelines. In an October 24 article in Greenwire, Ken Westlake, who heads the National Environmental Policy Act section of EPA’s Region 5 Office in Chicago, says:

We as an agency think they need to take a more comprehensive approach to analyzing
greenhouse gas emissions for natural gas projects. There have been a number of new pipelines or extended pipelines proposed to cross the country this year, and this particular letter represents us saying to FERC, “We really need to talk comprehensively about FERC’s approach to greenhouse gas analysis in their NEPA documents.” We have not received any reply from FERC.

EPA Seeks Climate Dialogue with FERC on Natural Gas Pipelines

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.