A published report by McClatchy Newspapers said President Trump is including the Atlantic Coast Pipeline among a list of 50 national infrastructure projects his administration considers priorities.
While that report could not be confirmed by the lead utility project in the pipeline project, Richmond-based Dominion Resources, a Dominion spokesman said Trump’s support of pipeline projects is a positive step.
“We’re very encouraged by the Trump administration’s strong commitment to rebuilding the nation’s energy infrastructure,” said Aaron Ruby, a spokesman for Dominion Resources. “This administration has taken some important first steps to clear the path for critically important projects, and we’re eager to work with the president to ensure that projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline are approved and built in a timely manner. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a privately-funded project that will provide significant benefits for millions of West Virginians, Virginians and North Carolinians.”
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission offered a draft environmental impact statement on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline at the end of December. The next step is a group of meetings by FERC that will include one in Staunton on Feb. 23. Those meetings will allow the public to comment on the draft environmental impact statement.
Ruby said the largest swath of land of any county included in the 600-mile underground natural gas pipeline would be the 55 miles of Augusta County.
An opponent of the pipeline, Augusta County Alliance Co-Chair Nancy Sorrells, offered her updated thoughts to the Augusta County Board of Supervisors Wednesday night.
Sorrells told supervisors that while the pipeline is far from final approval, “the game has gotten real serious. And without a doubt the county and its communities are going to take the hardest hit if this pipeline becomes a reality.”
She added that if the Augusta County Service Authority needs to do water/sewer repairs on completed pipeline land, it must deal with 13 water lines and six sewer lines impacted by the pipeline.
Sorrells told supervisors that Augusta County residents “didn’t ask for this. They feel helpless in trying to deal with this. They need you to be out there fighting for them.”
Supervisors have identified the Atlantic Coast Pipeline as one of the 2017 countywide priorities they must contend with.
While the pipeline’s primary job impact will be temporary jobs during construction, Ruby said Augusta County would garner an estimated $1.8 million a year in tax revenue once construction is complete.
Sorrells said she is concerned about the extra work that will be required of the county’s service authority when they have to go under the pipeline. She also wonders what the costs will be to Augusta County for emergency service equipment that is needed in case of an accident with the pipeline.
By BOB STUART bstuart@newsvirginian.com (540) 932-3562
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