The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) an additional six months for it to act on a request for water quality certification for the new water crossings proposed for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The Corps’ June 28 letter set a deadline of December 31, 2021 by when DEQ must act to certify the new water crossings under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, deny such certification or waive certification. DEQ had requested a 245-day extension.

Army Corps extends time for VA DEQ to act on MVP 401 request

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.