Map with more southern route for Atlantic Coast Pipeline shown as dotted line The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has asked Dominion to identify and develop a more southern Atlantic Coast Pipeline route across the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests that would avoid Shenandoah Mountain and Cheat Mountain and use existing utility rights of ways as much as possible. FERC has also called for updated information on any reroutes. We presume this would include biological surveys for the new southern route.
VWC is heartened that FERC has specifically called for a route that avoids designated and potential Wilderness Areas, National Recreation Areas, recommended wilderness study areas, and other sensitive public or resource areas.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is on hold until the more southern route has been developed and assessed.
Excerpt from FERC's Dec. 4, 2015 letter to Dominion:
VWC is heartened that FERC has specifically called for a route that avoids designated and potential Wilderness Areas, National Recreation Areas, recommended wilderness study areas, and other sensitive public or resource areas.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is on hold until the more southern route has been developed and assessed.
Excerpt from FERC's Dec. 4, 2015 letter to Dominion:
"You should be aware that through our consultations with the U.S. Forest Service and our interpretation of the prescriptive-specific goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines listed in the respective Monongahela and George Washington National Forests’ Land and Resource Management Plans, we have determined that alternative routes to the south of the currently proposed ACP route may offer environmental advantages over the currently proposed route. To ensure that a complete and thorough evaluation of the ACP is presented in the draft environmental impact statement (EIS), we request that Atlantic identify and assess an alternative pipeline route across the National Forests. The information requested in the enclosure is necessary for us to evaluate the SHP, ACP, and an alternative pipeline route across the National Forests and to continue preparation of the draft EIS for the project. Please note that we will not be able to establish a schedule for completing the EIS until we have received your response(s) and reviewed it for completeness...
Evaluate and optimize a pipeline route that utilizes MNF 5 and the conceptual southern route alternative that would avoid the Cheat and Back Alleghany Mountains, Shenandoah Mountain, designated and potential Wilderness Areas, National Recreation Areas, recommended wilderness study areas, and other sensitive public or resource areas within the MNF and GWNF, and optimizes the use of existing utility right-of-way to the extent practicable. Ensure that the comparative analysis utilizes current and defensible criteria and data to evaluate resource impacts. Criteria to analyze should include resources that are managed under each National Forest’s LRMP. Please note that we will not be able to consider construction and operation of any proposed action or alternative unless it complies with the National Forest’s LRMP or Atlantic has documented that the USFS would amend a respective LRMP for activities deemed inconsistent with the LRMP."
Read FERC's full letter to Dominion at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21393847/FERC/20151204-3026%2831059649%29.pdf
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