The lack of specific information about how the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) would be built without creating threats to water quality has hampered analysis of the project. The release last week of a draft water quality certification for the ACP (see link in article above) underscores the problem and prompted the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition (DPMC) to submit a Freedom of Information Request to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The July 6 DPMC letter seeks the following information for three specific locations along the pipeline route in Highland, Bath, Augusta and Nelson Counties that traverse steep mountain terrain and are thus susceptible to serious erosion problems:
- Site-specific information describing erosion and sediment control plans, stormwater management plans, stream crossing plans, and slope stabilization plans for construction associated with the pipeline corridor, access roads, and other workspace;
- Plan narratives, schematics, and site-specific plan view and cross-section diagrams of the pipeline corridor, access roads, and other workspace construction, showing the extent of excavation, the disposition of spoil, and the locations and specifications for erosion and runoff control and slope stabilization structures; and
- All pre-construction and post-construction runoff calculations prepared to evaluate potential changes in runoff characteristics following construction associated with the pipeline corridor, access roads, and other workspace.
The DPMC letter, which is accompanied by maps of the targeted areas, seeks information for the pipeline corridor, project-related access roads, and all other projected-related workspace.