An ABRA request for an investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of an incidence of non-compliance by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC, filed on March 22 received attention from the agency the following day. The request had been based on an incident report – the first under ABRA’s new Compliance Surveillance Initiative (CSI) – spotted by the CSI Pipeline Air Force of unauthorized equipment and ground disturbance at a Augusta County, VA location adjacent to where the company intends to conduct a horizontal directional drilling operation under the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Apparent equipment staging area and new or reconstructed road and bridges observed during Pipeline Air Force surveillance flights. (3/11/18)

FERC’s summary report on environmental compliance for the ACP for the week of March 19-25 (posted on the FERC docket on April 24) included the information below. The report indicated that a follow-up inspection would be conducted.

The incident report was also filed with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on March 13. DEQ informed ABRA last week that it is still investigating the incident.

CSI’s First Incident Report Receives FERC Attention

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.