COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND
DISTRICT: (804) 698-1069 • FAX (804) 698-6769 • EMAIL: delegate.carr@betsycarr.org
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:
GENERAL LAWS
TRANSPORTATION
Appropriations
BETSY B. CARR
POST OFFICE BOX 406
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218
SIXTY-NINTH DISTRICT
December 1, 2015
The Honorable Norman C. Bay and Commissioners
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 1st Street NE
Washington, DC 20426
RE: Docket # CP15-554-000 (Atlantic Coast Pipeline) & Docket #CP16-10-000 (Mountain Valley
Pipeline)
Dear Chairman Bay and Commissioners,
Thank you for your dedication and efforts on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. As a
member of the Virginia House of Delegates, I am writing to respectfully request that you conduct a
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Mountain Valley
Pipeline, Appalachian Connector Pipeline, and WB Xpress project proposals. Due to the tight
geographic and temporal scope of these projects, I believe a PEIS is necessary to understand the
cumulative impacts of this development, should all four of these projects proceed.
Given the potentially large impacts of these projects, I believe that it is important to thoughtfully
consider all the possibilities. I have heard from numerous organizations and constituents throughout
Virginia and many of them are concerned about the impacts on the rural character of the central Blue
Ridge and Appalachian Mountain region, the clearing of forest habitats that are occupied by endangered
or threatened species, increasing the region’s greenhouse gas emission, adversely affecting the region’s air quality, harming the water quality and watersheds providing drinking water, the regional economy, and the protection of our national park forests.
A PEIS would allow FERC to develop and assess alternatives that would minimize or avoid the
cumulative impacts of these pipelines. A specific concern that I have commonly heard voiced questions
the overall need of these pipelines. It is our duty to try to avoid the worst impacts of climate change; to
do that I feel that we must be transitioning to renewable energy instead. The balance of necessary energy development and protection of citizens’ homes and environment is a topic that warrants serious
discussion. It would seem that a PEIS is both a sensible and necessary component of this process, and I
encourage you take it into your consideration.
Thank you for your attention and deliberation regarding the issues raised in this letter.
Sincerely,
Betsy B. Carr