Month: February 2021

Conservation groups voice concerns over MVP water permits

Six conservation groups have written the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requesting a meeting with the agency concerning forthcoming water certification requests from Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP, LLC) for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. The February 12 letter

Pipeline bills progress in the Virginia General Assembly

Two measures designed to improve state oversight of natural gas pipelines have now passed the Virginia Senate and are headed for floor consideration in the House of Delegates. SB1265, sponsored by Sen. Deeds, authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

2020 Census Expected to Significantly Impact Congressional Representation

Results of the 2020 U.S. Census are expected to be released by or before April 30, according to a recent statement by the acting director of the Census Bureau. The Census results will become the basis of the once-a-decade reapportionment

ABRA members file comments with FERC about ACP restoration issues

Fifteen conservation groups, including 9 ABRA members, filed comments on February 9, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to raise concerns over the plan recently submitted to the agency by Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC (Atlantic) on how the Atlantic

Press Release: Gold mining legislation approved by Virginia Senate

Card – Friends of Buckingham – 2/17/21 Related: After opposition to gold mining in Buckingham, General Assembly weighs temporary ban and study Related: All that glitters

Conservationists Urge Higher Fines for Mountain Valley Pipeline Project

Card – Public News Service – 2/18/21

Mountain Valley Pipeline still facing concerns over Lewis County erosion issues

Card – Charleston Gazette-Mail – 2/18/21

ATC Reveals Further Details of $19.5M Pipeline Agreement

Card – The Trek – 2/16/21

Appalachia’s top natural gas-producing counties falling further behind economically, report says

Card – Charleston Gazette-Mail – 2/10/21 Related: ORVI REPORT – Appalachia’s Natural Gas Counties: How dreams of jobs and prosperity turned into almost nothing

Va. Senate committee kills bills aimed at Dominion Energy over-earnings

Card – Richmond Times-Dispatch – 2/15/21

« Previous

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.