The lead article in the March 7 ABRA Update reported that the Rules Committee of the West Virginia House of Delegates had approved a resolution (House Resolution 11) condemning “assaults on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and other urgently needed energy infrastructure projects.” Later that night, after Update had been emailed, the House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved House Resolution 11 by an 80-17 vote (3 members did not vote). All Republican members who voted supported the measure, plus 21 of the 40 Democrats in the House. The text of the bill as introduced is available here. An identical resolution was introduced in the West Virginia Senate in mid-February, Senate Resolution 42, but no action on the resolution was taken before the West Virginia General Assembly adjourned on March 9.

West Virginia House of Delegates Condemns Those Opposing the ACP

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.