Bill Wolf, Co-Chair
Craig County asks FERC for consulting status – again
Happy New Year! We are blessed to be living in this special place. And we go into 2018 optimistic that we will continue to protect Craig County and this region for generations to come. Thank you all for your continuing support!
The obstacles to approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) continue to mount. MVP is still missing several key approvals, including acceptance of its sedimentation control plan by the state of Virginia and permits to build on Federal land. In the meantime, new lawsuits against MVP, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) continue to be filed in the Federal Courts.
Preserve Craig is actively supporting and pursuing several legal efforts to block MVP from harming our waters, our forests, our viewsheds, our economy and our way of life. The FERC rehearing requests, a lawsuit against DEQ, and appeals of the Forest Service decisions are all being pursued.
Eminent domain lawsuits and hearings in both Roanoke and Charleston West Virginia are now disclosing serious questions about the financial viability of the $3.5 Billion-dollar construction project. EQT, the managing partner and primary owner of the MVP, is planning to split into two companies, primarily because its investors are questioning the project’s viability.
Meanwhile, Craig County filed a new request with the FERC on December 21, 2017, to become a consulting party regarding the protection of historic sites along the MVP route. It was recently discovered that a civil war cemetery in Craig County was inaccurately portrayed by MVP and needs to be protected. Thanks to the Craig County Board of Supervisors and our Interim County Administrator, Clay Goodman, for these efforts.
We’ll keep working in 2018 to protect our wells, springs, streams and watersheds that are threatened by this project.
This week we’re publishing some photos of the route where MVP proposes to cross karst sinkholes and construct a road over Sinking Creek in Craig County.
Preserve Craig, Inc. is a 501C3 nonprofit volunteer public charity formed in 1991 using volunteers and donations to protect our natural, historical, and cultural resources. Tax-deductible donations are welcome online at www.preservecraig.org or by mail to Preserve Craig, Inc., PO Box 730, New Castle, VA. 24127. Phone: 540-309-9560. Email: preservecraig@gmail.com