Cheat Summit Overlook, Randolph & Pocahontas County Line
Report by Lauren Ragland, July 28, 2014
[PHOTO - Courtesy of Amy Mitchem] Cheat Summit Overlook, Randolph / Pocahontas County line, WV. National Scenic Highway, Staunton-Petersburg Turnpike. View of Dominion’s proposed transmission pipeline: SE-Pipeline. [The black water line circle is the actual size of the proposed 42" dry gas transmission pipe. The pink hula hoop represents the actual size of the 36" Keystone transmission pipeline.]
VIEW — Looking below and beyond over the endless green vista, it is impossible to imagine this becoming an industrial zone. The majority of the land is within the Monongahela National Forest, which the innocent believe is protected from development.
This view from the Randolph / Pocahontas county line could and would be destroyed by many massive, loud, toxic Compressor Stations that would dot the landscape.
Dominion stated in their original March and April 2014 press releases that industry standards require Compressor Stations every 10-40 miles to move the dry gas over the high elevation of our mountains.
SIZE – Dominion’s proposed SE-Pipeline is larger than the thirty-six inch diameter Keystone transmission pipeline at forty-two inches.
In the photo the black water line hoop is the actual size of the 42″ transmission pipe. The pink hula hoop represents the actual size of the 36″ Keystone transmission pipeline.
Natural gas companies are reluctant to mention publically that their massive Compressor Stations of two story turbines and radiators also include huge Liquid Separators. Another surprise is the Valve Meter Stations placed every two to five miles along the five hundred mile pipeline, requiring access. Have you heard yet about the helicopters and infra-red cameras flying by looking for leaks?
US Route 250, is the historic 175 year old Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike, and is within the heart of the ten-mile proposed path of SE-Pipeline. It winds through Civil War camps, battlefields, cemeteries and rail road towns surrounded by the mountains.
Online at the Staunton Parkersburg Turnpike website, US Route 250 is described as having “breathtaking mountain views, fresh air, and wildlife are all abundant along the Turnpike in West Virginia. For nature-lovers and civilization-leavers, the Old Pike is a beautiful drive. Today the drive along the Turnpike through Pocahontas and Randolph Counties is still beautiful and idyllic, with varying shades of foliage through all seasons of weather. While many scenic byways promise a beautiful country road, driving the S-P Turnpike is like driving back through time.”
EDUCATING – A team of West Virginia citizens has been devoted to educating the local elected officials and the general public since the first week of June when the WV Gazette and Pocahontas Times printed the Dominion press release of May 18, 2014.
Lauren Ragland founder of WV Wilderness Lovers and Ed Wade Jr of Wetzel County Action group have made presentations at the Pocahontas Commissioners Meeting and the Mill Creek Town Council in July, and on August 7th will speak at the Randolph County Commissioners meeting at 1PM and at 6PM will host the first Public Meeting on the SE-Pipeline in West Virginia, at the Durbin Fire Hall.
At this point Dominion representatives have both cancelled scheduled meetings and not responded to requests for alternative spokespersons. There are dozens of questions that the residents of Randolph and Pocahontas County would like answered. The maps Dominion provided were “out of focus on purpose as to not cause fear,” stated both WV spokesperson Robert Orndorff and VA spokesperson Frank Mack.
Visit the Facebook site “WV Wilderness Lovers vs Proposed Pipeline” and the FERC-101 Blog where one can learn the known health dangers and public safety hazards of pipeline development and operation.
CONTACTS: Lauren Ragland (304-339-2598) and Ed Wade Jr. (304-775-5046).
EMAIL: WV.wilderness.vs.prop.pipeline@gmail.com
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ROAD TRIP ALONG US ROUTE 250 — EDUCATING THE PUBLIC
On the sunny Friday of June 20, 2014 my chauffeur, Sandra Osborn of Valley Head, WV, drove us along the Dominion SE-Pipeline proposed route to educate the public.
We traveled along US Rt 250 from Randolph County through Pocahontas County in WV, through Huttonsville, Durbin, Frank, Bartow, then south on Rt 28 / 92 through Boyer, Arbovale, Green Bank, Cass and Linwood.
Driving on the designated National Scenic Byway, the Staunton-Petersburg Turnpike, the original Buffalo – Indian trail, we passed through the Cheat Cooperative Wild Life Management, the Tygart Valley Conservation District, the Gardineer Scenic Area, the Little River Cooperative Wild Life Management and the Greenbrier Watershed Area. We passed the Civil War sites Ft. Milroy and Camp Bartow.
This was the first public outreach on Dominion’s proposed pipelines. There had been nothing printed in the local paper since the initial press release three weeks previously.
Our goal was to talk and share with local residents most affected by this 42″ transmission pipeline. We handed out fliers from the Wetzel County Action Group. Ed Wade Jr.’s display of photos of the permanent pipeline destruction in his area were upsetting to everyone who saw them. His photos show rivers blown up with dynamite, bulldozed to ruin, sediment filled murky waters and mountain sides permanently scared with industrial development.
We stopped and spoke to any person lucky enough to be outside when we drove by. We met and shared with people at every open business establishment including gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, auto repair, libraries, post offices and tourist bureaus. It was a very fun, rewarding and exhausting day.
People were generally in shock with our news and grateful for our efforts. Some had heard “rumors” but most had no idea what we were talking about. Many people were angry realizing what Dominion is planning parallel to their homes and businesses without their knowledge. All day only three people thought it was a good idea for progress – three.
Every one we spoke with was disgusted that the official Dominion maps were out of focus. I explained that the official WV Dominion spokesperson from Clarksburg, Robert Orborff had made it clear to me that they were fuzzy on purpose, as to not cause fear. The useless maps were not appreciated by the educated populace of WV who regularly use detailed topographic maps for hunting, fishing, and hiking.
It took us eleven hours to make the loop from Huttonsville to Linwood and the last conversation was the most amazing of all.
LAST CONVERSATION
In pouring rain at 8:30 PM, turning onto my rural road, we came across an obviously lost soul extremely frustrated with no chance of cell phone assistance. He had been circling the dark wet mountain roadway for an hour having mixed up his rights and lefts.
After giving him perfect directions to Silver Creek and the motorcross event at Snowshoe, I shared that this was the ending of a very long and interesting day spreading the word about a pipeline planned for this area.
“Here?” he exclaimed, “Here in the wilderness?” “I’ve worked for Dominion for five years building sub-stations. I hope you win.”
CONTACT: Lauren Ragland 304-339-2598
CONTACT : Ed Wade Jr. 304-775-5046