A coalition of environmental and conservation organizations, including 12 members of ABRA, filed a legal challenge to the Virginia State Water Control Board’s December 12 approval of a water quality certification for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP). The suit, filed
Virginia DEQ Shuts Down Public Input, Curbs Water Board in 401 Process
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has proclaimed that there is to be no further input from the public in the final stages of water quality certification (under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act) for the Atlantic
DPMC Asks Virginia Governor to Restore Integrity to Pipeline Reviews
The Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition (DPMC) has written Virginia Governor Ralph Northam asking that he order responsible state officials to correct the failures and improper actions exhibited by the Department of Environmental Quality and State Water Control Board in its
Urge Governor Northam to Insist on a Credible 401 Review of the ACP & MVP
An on-line petition to Virginia Governor Northam, who was inaugurated last weekend, urges that he “ensure that DEQ’s continued investigation of pipeline impacts on Virginia’s waters is transparent, thorough and grounded in the best available scientific and engineering data —
Request Your Congressman to Ask FERC to Rehear ACP and MVP Decisions
In the wake of Virginia Sen. Kaine’s January 5 letter asking that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to rehear its decisions on the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a campaign is underway to encourage other Members of
Law Suit Filed to Stop Mountain Valley Pipeline
A coalition of environmental groups took legal action on July 8 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to halt the start of construction of the fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), challenging the “certificate of public convenience
Sen. Kaine Requests FERC to Rehear ACP and MVP Decisions
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has written Kevin McIntyre, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, asking that the agency grant rehearings on the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Kaine’s January 5 letter notes that the 2-1 votes
Forest Service Seeks to Increase Efficiency in its Environmental Analysis
The Forest Service is proposing to revise its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures with the goal of increasing efficiency of environmental analysis, according to a January 3 Federal Register notice. The Notice states that among the reasons for seeking
Citizens groups applaud VA legislation regarding natural gas pipelines
Three legislators from southwest Virginia have introduced several bills in the 2018 Virginia General Assembly aimed at protecting water quality and landowner rights from the construction of fracked-gas pipelines, such as the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. The
ABRA in 2018: A New Year and New Challenges
A year ago, in the first week of January 2017, ABRA members were deeply involved in analyzing the then just released Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and beginning to develop arguments and strategies to