Upcoming 401 Certification for ACP & MVP in Virginia

LETTER FROM BOLD AMERICA REGARDING ACP & MVP

The Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently held public hearings for people to express their concerns for both the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP).

Landowners and all those opposed to these unnecessary fracked gas pipelines that threaten waters in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina have been petitioning the DEQ for a 60-day extension to the public comment deadlines for the MVP and ACP permits — which otherwise close on August 22nd.

Sign the letter to Gov. McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Northam and Virginia DEQ Director David Paylor: Extend the public comment periods for ACP and MVP. And, please contact these people on your own.

Because many documents from both MVP and ACP have not even been released yet for public comment — citizens are being left in the dark, and are unable to give specific feedback on the numerous water bodies threatened by these pipelines — including the amount of sediment expected to be released into the six Virginia rivers; upland impacts; impacts on recreational lands; and the results of karst hazard assessments and dye-testing.

We’re taking Bold action and calling directly on Gov. McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Northam and David Paylor — head of the Virginia DEQ — to perform their sworn duties, and hold fast to the DEQ’s mission to “protect and enhance Virginia’s environment, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

The DEQ must grant a 60-day extension to the public comment period, and suspend this process until all the relevant studies and information can be reviewed by citizens.

Sign the letter: Extend the public comments periods for the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines.

>>> Thanks for standing with us. Carolyn Reilly and the Bold Alliance team

P.S. Do you have some great photos of you and your family enjoying some of the many Virginia rivers and water bodies threatened by these risky fracked-gas pipelines? We can use them to help raise awareness of our fight to protect our water and land. Email your water photos to Carolyn Reilly: carolyn@boldalliance.org

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How to comment on proposed 401 Water Quality Certifications for the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines

From Greenbrier River Watershed Association, August 10, 2017

You have the right to provide public comments on the proposed Section 401 Water Quality Certifications for construction related activities in upland areas that are located near state waters and that may affect state water along the proposed routes of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).

What is the subject of the public comment period?
DEQ is seeking comments on the proposed conditions described in the draft certificates. Only comments related to the MVP or ACP additional conditions will be considered. Additional conditions address karst protection, unregulated surface water withdrawal, exceptional waters, water quality monitoring and activity on steep slopes and in slide prone areas to protect areas during and after construction activities. These conditions provide additional protections not already addressed by other regulations or requirements.

When is the public comment period? 
Comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on August 22, 2017. The comment period is 50 days, 20 days longer than required by the State Water Control Board’s Procedural Rule No. 1 (9VAC25-230-130B).

((It also is important to note that DEQ has directed ACP and MVP to post their site-specific plans for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management so the public can have an opportunity to review them. That deadline is October 13, 2017.))
 
How do I submit a comment?
 
>>> Hand-deliver your comments to DEQ: Office of Wetlands & Stream Protection, 629 East Main St., Richmond, VA 23219 during business hours 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
>>> Mail your comments to DEQ: Office of Wetlands & Stream
Protection, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218.
 
>>> Email your comments: For the ACP, the email address is
comment-acp@deq.virginia.gov

>>> For MVP, the email address is comment-mvp@deq.virginia.gov
 
>>> Comments are given the same consideration by the board whether they are made in writing or given orally.

What is required for a public comment to be considered?
Comments must be submitted before the end of the comment period by the 11:59 p.m., August 22, 2017 deadline. Comments should be factual and related to the merits or issues contained in the proposed certification document. When providing written comments, the person commenting must include his/her name and mailing address, and if representing a group of people, the person commenting must also include the names, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers of the persons being represented.
 
What happens after the public comment period?
DEQ staff will summarize all public oral and written comments received during the public comment period, and will provide this summary and responses to comments to the State Water Control Board before its Fall meeting.
 
Only persons who have submitted written or oral comments during the public comment period may respond to the public comment summary provided to the State Water Control Board in accordance with the Board’s Policy on Public Comment at State Water Control Board Meetings.

The State Water Control Board may grant as proposed, grant with amendments, or deny the proposed 401 certification. DEQ will publish additional information as it becomes available, and will send email updates through its news feeds. DEQ director hears residents’ fears about pipeline impacts to wells, springs and pristine streams. See also the information here:
 
http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/giles_county/deq-director-hears-residents-fears-about-pipeline-impacts-to-wells/article_35867e51-89e1-5aa4-9879-511022bd438f.html

Tagged as: 401 Certification, ACP, comment period extension, MVP, NC, public waters, stream damages, VA, wv