Pipelines Meetings: Understanding Your Legal Rights – Mountain Valley Pipeline: October 28 @ 7:00 pm, Mountain Valley Pipeline Issues /Meeting: Mountain Valley Pipeline Issues Tuesday October 28 At 12 PM - 2:30 PM. SONGS OF SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE - David Rovics Plays for People, Peace and Planet Monday at 7:00pm
Factory Chicken Farms Meetings:
Meeting Oct. 27 6 PM will provide information to potential contract growers
Meeting Oct. 28 6:30 PM will have an overview of how a poultry complex would affect the community with Q&A.
From KM: Please be aware of the important informational meetings below. Forward the information to other you know to be on or near proposed pipeline paths.
There are some websites and blogs that aid in understanding impacts of fracking gas pipe lines and your rights (or lack thereof) as a property owner. One such website is http://preservethenrv.com/ This is the homepage.
Make sure to click the tabs at the top to access pertinent information. http://prideva.blogspot.com/
Trying to keep up with the plethora of Proposed Pipelines in Pittsylvania (PPP) is becoming quite a task. The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) proposed path includes the counties of Giles, Pulaski, Montgomery, Roanoke, Franklin and Pittsylvania. Floyd County was considered initially, but later dropped. The Pipeline reps. said it was due to trying to avoid scenic issues like the Appalachian trail and Blue Ridge Parkway. However, early opposition from Floyd residents and Supervisors and the desire to protect their water was fierce. Other counties along the route are taking notice, educating themselves, asking questions and favoring opposition as well.
This weeks Star Tribune reports that the pipeline will cover 15-20 miles in Pittsylvania and will affect about 120 land owners. The article quotes pipeline spokesperson Natalie Cox. The article states that Cox said that companies are seeking permission to walk properties and stake routes.
She also said (according to the article) that company representatives have talked with county officials and are looking forward to starting a dialogue with landowners. RED FLAG...There was no notice on any agenda (in open or closed session) for Pittsylvania County that show evidence of such a meeting with county officials. Even so, it appears some supervisors have met with MVP reps. in groups of less than 3 to avoid public notice. Also odd is Cox stating that they are seeking permission to walk properties and then says are looking forward to starting a dialogue with landowners!!! Sounds like putting the cart before the horse.
Meeting: Understanding Your Legal Rights – Mountain Valley Pipeline
Time: 7:00 pm October 28
Blacksburg Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church
1301 Gladewood Drive NW,Blacksburg,VA United States
Joe Lovett (Executive Director of Appalachian Mountain Advocates), Isaac Howell (a FERC expert in Roanoke), and Elise Keaton (director of Keeper of the Mountains Foundation in WV) will be here to provide information specifically on the Mountain Valley Pipeline as to how we can proceed and helping us understand our legal rights (although they cannot solicit legal clients or recommend specific legal counsel). They can provide us information on how to proceed with FERC as well as other government agencies involved in regulating natural gas distribution. They will also be able to assist us in organizing locally and with other groups they are helping in Virginia and West Virginia. While their presentation is free, donations to fund their work as a non-profit are appreciated.
Date: October 28
Date: October 28
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Meeting: Mountain Valley Pipeline Issues
Tuesday October 28 At 12 PM - 2:30 PMAt the Franklin County Library355 Franklin St., Rocky Mount, VAIt's time to organize! Next Tuesday, at noon, at the Franklin County Library, we will gather to discuss issues related to the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline.
Affected landowners will be present as well as supportive allies to assist in the formation of a strong group to coordinate, educate, and inspire people to take action.
If you're interested in helping, please join us!Monday at 7:00pmMonday night at 7:00pm, come see in concert David Rovics, a living legend in the activist community, and meet volunteers working for peace (from sponsor Plowshare Peace Center), for many progressive causes (from sponsor P.A.N.O.R.), and for stopping the Mountain Valley Pipeline (from Floyd, Montgomery, Franklin, and of course Roanoke counties).
Because stopping the pipeline is an urgent issue facing our region right now, the main focus of this concert will be on raising awareness and support for this cause. So come on out, hear amazing activism-driven music, and make connections with great people and great causes!
POOP: Pittsylvania County MeetingsFebruary of this year an amendment to Pittsylvania's zoning ordinance was proposed to lay the groundwork to abolish R-1 (residential) designations in favor of R-A (residential agriculture. This would increase minimum lot size, allow sludge to be spread near your property line and restrict your ability to use your property to accommodate the sludge spreaders. Why? It looks like Pittsylvania has some big proponents of a "poultry complex" which would include a hatchery, feed mill and processing plant and approximately 100 contract growers within about a 50 mile radius of the feed mill and processing plant. So, there will be a lot of sludge (some classified as industrial) to spread around. This should leave everyone's well water in tip-top shape!Posted on: October 16, 2014
Interested in Being a Contract Poultry Grower?
A meeting will be held at the Old Dominion Agricultural Complexat Chatham, VAon October 27 at 6:00 pm
for people interested in becoming a poultry contract grower. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of what is involved in being a contract poultry grower and to help gauge interest in being a contract grower. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session. A short survey will handed out at the end of the meeting. Responses will be anonymous.
Posted on: October 16, 2014
Poultry Complex Feasibility Study: Meeting:
A public meeting will be held at the Old Dominion Agricultural Complexat Chatham, VAon October 28 at 6:30 pm.
The purpose of the meeting is to get input for a study determining the feasibility of locating a poultry complex in Pittsylvania County. An overview of how a poultry complex would affect the community will be provided followed by a question and answer session. A short survey will be handed out at the end of the meeting. Responses will be anonymous.
This meeting is part of a study funded by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to determine the feasibility of locating a poultry complex in Pittsylvania County. The study and meeting are being conducted by BR Bock Consulting, Inc. A poultry complex would include a hatchery, feed mill, and processing plant in Pittsylvania County, and approximately 100 contract growers within about a 50-mile radius of the feed mill and processing plant. Major considerations in the study are infrastructure, workforce, environmental, potential contract grower base, and public acceptance.Meeting Oct. 27 6 PM will provide information to potential contract growersMeeting Oct. 28 6:30 PM will have an overview of how a poultry complex would affect the community with Q&A.The meetings are to seek public input on a county poultry study that is being funded by the county ($10,000) and the Gov.'s Agriculture and Forestry Development Fund ($10,000). The study and meeting are being conducted by BR Bock. Please visit their website http://brbock.com/index.html The only thing Bock seems to study is how to make the most out of poo We in Pittsylvania County will be in a world of **it and your tax dollars will have funded the study designed to make it happen.
Dominion starts making adjustments to pipeline route
BY BRIAN CARLTON The (Waynesboro) News Virginian | Posted: Saturday, October 25, 2014 7:45 pm
WAYNESBORO — More letters are going out to property owners in Virginia, as Dominion Resources makes adjustments to the proposed route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project. Company officials said the plan underwent what they call a “minor” rerouting after several public meetings were held over the last two months.
“We have an initial route, which we continue to modify based on important and ongoing feedback from landowners and other interested parties,” said Frank Mack, manager of Dominion Transmission Communications. “There have been some minor route adjustments, based on what our surveyors have found and what landowners have requested.”
As of this week, letters had gone out to property owners of 3,265 tracts across West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, asking permission for Dominion employees to survey the property. Now, that number has climbed to 3,331.
Out of the new total, Dominion records show that 72 percent of landowners have given the company permission to survey and 12 percent have declined. Mack said discussions continue with the remaining 16 percent of property owners.
Actual purchase of the right-of-way easements is expected to take place in the spring, Mack said. Right now, he said, the focus is on getting permission to survey all of the properties.
The company surveys individual properties to avoid running into issues such as a family cemetery plot, which both Mack and fellow Dominion spokesman Jim Norvelle said in the past the company would not go through. That’s one of the examples given of why the pipeline has been rerouted.
Mack said the route through Augusta and Nelson counties has gone through some minor changes, but more alterations could be on the way. Dominion plans to hold open houses to discuss the changes with residents in early 2015, Mack said, ahead of additional meetings that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will call for, as the official application for the project is filed. A final “preferred” route is expected to be ready to present to FERC by the summer, he said.
The public can express its views on the pipeline once FERC takes it under consideration. Tamara Young-Allen, a spokeswoman for FERC, cautioned people not to expect the same route and overall project by the end of the process.
“No pipeline project looks the same from when it’s first proposed to when FERC issues its final recommendation,” Young-Allen said.
Dominion is currently in the pre-filing process. Once that’s done and the application has been submitted, FERC then lets the people know they can offer comment or testify before the commission as what’s known as an “intervener.”
“Anyone who can show that no one else can represent their views can intervene,” Young-Allen said. “These people are the ones who take a formal stand about the pipeline before the commission. They have the ability to appeal the commission decisions, as well.”
While testimony is being heard, the project also is being evaluated by FERC staffers. They look at any potential problems with the current plan, as well as alternatives to the proposed route.
This isn’t a short process and an answer won’t be quick in coming, Young-Allen said. Normally, it takes between 12 to 18 months to get a decision, with the clock starting after a company has filed a formal application.
A map of the revised route is not yet available for viewing.
Dominion starts adjusting pipeline route
By BRIAN CARLTON The News-Virginian | Posted: Friday, October 24, 2014 10:30 pmWAYNESBORO — More letters are going out to property owners in Virginia this week, as Dominion Resources Inc. adjusts the proposed route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project.
Company officials said the plan underwent what they call a “minor” rerouting after a series of public meetings held over the past two months.
“We have an initial route, which we continue to modify based on important and ongoing feedback from landowners and other interested parties,” said Frank Mack, a spokesman for Dominion Transmission, a subsidiary of Dominion Resources. “There have been some minor route adjustments, based on what our surveyors have found and what landowners have requested.”
Dominion Resources is forming a joint venture with three other major energy companies to build and own a $4.5 billion to $5 billion, 550-mile natural gas pipeline from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina. Letters have gone out to property owners of 3,331 tracts across the three states, asking permission for Dominion employees to survey the property.
Dominion records show that 72 percent of landowners have given the company permission to survey and 12.1 percent have declined. Mack said discussions continue with the remaining 15.9 percent of property owners. Actual purchase of the right of way easements is expected to take place in the spring.
Mack said the focus now is getting permission to survey all the properties. Company officials need to survey individual properties to avoid running into such issues as family cemetery plots, which the company has said it will not go through. That’s an example given of why the pipeline has been rerouted.
Dominion plans to hold additional open houses in early 2015 to discuss changes with residents, Mack said. A final “preferred” route is expected to be ready to present to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by summer 2015, he said.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/energy/dominion-starts-adjusting-pipeline-route/article_044594ef-230a-51f1-8f8d-d7735af0f3c5.html
http://www.timesdispatch.com/business/energy/dominion-starts-adjusting-pipeline-route/article_044594ef-230a-51f1-8f8d-d7735af0f3c5.html
