The Virginia State Water Control Board (SWCB) announced this week that it will hold town meetings in December to consider the applications for water quality certification for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The consideration is part of the process required under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The meetings are scheduled for:

Mountain Valley Pipeline. 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 6, 2017, and Thursday, December 7, 2017. Location: Trinity Family Life Center, 3601 Dill Road, Richmond, VA
Atlantic Coast Pipeline. 9:30 a.m., Monday, December 11, 2017, and Tuesday, December 12, 2017. Location: Trinity Family Life Center, 3601 Dill Road, Richmond, VA

On the first day of each meeting, those who made oral or written comments during the public comment period will have an opportunity to sign up to speak to the board under the board’s policy for public participation. The official agenda containing more details will be available in early November.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will present a summary of the public comments it received and will make its recommendations to the board on the proposed additional conditions at each meeting. DEQ issued in July an initial recommendation that both the ACP and MVP be certified. The SWCB may approve, deny or amend the recommendations.

Further analysis of the 401 issue in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina will be provided in subsequent editions of ABRA Update.

Virginia State Water Board Delays 401 Decisions Until December

Tagged on: 401 board December decision delay state Update 150 VA Virginia Water

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.