This week’s Executive Actions by President Trump are reminder of how important it is that the government agencies responsible for making decisions concerning the environmental and safety dimensions of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline be encouraged to perform due diligence in accordance with the law. Last week’s Update requested that special communications be sent to top officials in the U.S. Forest Service, urging that they:

1) Conduct a complete and thorough review of the pending application for a special use permit for the ACP, as required by law; and

2) Do not amend the existing Forest Plan for the George Washington National Forest.

Statements should be sent soon to:

S. Forest Service Chief, Thomas Tidwell,
Kathleen Atkinson, Regional Forester,
Tony Tooke, Regional Forester, .

Additional background information is available here.

Forest Service Communications Still Needed

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.