The proposed conservation easement conversions of certain properties along the routes of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline may be decided on Monday, October 16 during a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. The 10 am meeting will be held at office of the State Corporation Commission, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Last week’s ABRA Update reported on the background of the meeting. The easement issues will be the first item on the board’s agenda. Public comments will be permitted. Actions available to the board include approval or disapproval of the conversions, but a decision could be deferred until a later date.

ACP/MVP Easement Conversions Top VOF Agenda for Monday

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.