Month: January 2021

President Biden appoints new FERC Chair

President Biden has named Richard Glick to serve as Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The action was announced on the morning of the President’s first full-day in office, January 21. Glick, a Democrat, has been a FERC

Biden orders review of Trump actions on methane regulation

The rollback of the Obama-era rule designed to reduce climate-warming methane emissions that former President Trump ordered in 2020 is a candidate for revocation under an Executive Order issued January 20 by President Biden. The President’s “Executive Order on Protecting

White House orders freeze on issuance and implementation of new rules

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain issued January 20 a memorandum to the heads of all federal executive departments and agencies directing that new pending rules be held up until the President’s appointees or designees “have the opportunity to

New Environment Secretary chosen in West Virginia

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) announced January 20 the appointment of Harold Ward as Secretary of the Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. He replaces Austin Caperton, who resigned in December. Ward has most recently been Deputy Secretary of Operations

In a rare rebuke, FERC fails to approve Mountain Valley Pipeline’s proposal

Card – The Roanoke Times – 1/19/20 Related: FERC Dems Criticize ‘Piecemeal’ MVP Construction, Possibly Stalling Future Authorizations

Forest Service approves MVP crossing through Jefferson National Forest, triggering lawsuit and frustration from environmentalists

Card – Charleston Gazette-Mail – 1/12/21

Bipartisan coalition looks to reform Virginia’s system of electric utility regulation

Card – Virginia Mercury – 1/18/21

AG Mark Herring Part of Lawsuit That Just Blocked Trump’s “Dirty Power” Rule That Violated the Clean Air Act

Card

Virginia groups sue U.S. Forest Service over new environmental review standards

Card – Virginia Mercury – 1/11/21

Electric resource plans suggest hotly contested path to WV’s energy future

Card – Charleston Gazette-Mail – 1/16/21

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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.