Here is some great information from our friends at the Southern Environmental Law Center.
The proposed route for Dominion’s 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline has been a mess from the beginning. It carves through family farms, steep mountain ridges, and public water supplies, and it is slated to cross the Appalachian Trail on U.S. Forest Service land, a move that federal judges say is not legal.
Rather than reconsider their poorly-planned project, Dominion is asking the U.S. Congress to change laws to make way for its unneeded gas pipeline.
Tell your senators and your representative in Congress that you oppose legislation that would change the rules to make way for Dominion’s unpopular, expensive, and destructive pipeline.
Thank you for taking action to protect the mountain streams, family farms, private property, water supplies, and Appalachian Trail that we all cherish.
What’s It About
Dominion is in trouble. It’s been five years since the company announced that it would build a high-pressure gas pipeline from West Virginia, across the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, into North Carolina. Today, the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is broadly unpopular, 50 percent over budget (now a shocking $7.5+ billion), and two years behind schedule.
In December 2018, a federal court in Richmond said that Dominion’s plan to cross the Appalachian Trail (AT) was not legal, and it overturned the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of the crossing. Dominion is calling on Congress to come to its rescue, asking senators and representatives to change the law and undo the court’s ruling.
This special treatment would undercut the regulatory process in two significant ways:
o ACP legislation would insert Congress into an ongoing process to the detriment of landowners, utility customers, and public lands users. ACP’s proposed route is still under review by agencies and courts, including separate cases challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s biological opinion and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s certificate. The outcome of this agency and judicial review could significantly change the route and even result in a fundamental rethinking of the entire project.
o Legislation would create the troubling precedent that pipeline developers could call on Congress to fix permitting problems for ill-conceived projects that run afoul of the law. And Congress doesn’t need to act. Despite the exaggerated claims from Dominion, oil and gas pipelines do not cross the AT on national forest lands. It simply has not been necessary. Dominion has other routing options which the Fourth Circuit found it failed to study.
The Forest Service permit allowing the AT crossing is one of seven permits that federal courts have overturned or put on hold, all because of Dominion’s careless route selection and rushed permitting. ACP’s proposed permanently cleared right-of-way, as wide as a seven-lane highway, will spoil scenic views from the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
And it’s increasingly clear that the pipeline is not needed to meet electricity and gas demand. In 2018, Virginia regulators found that Dominion already owns enough pipeline capacity to serve its existing power plants. Remarkably, Dominion has not produced a study demonstrating a need for the ACP.
Worse, electricity customers in Virginia and North Carolina would be on the hook to pay for the costly new pipeline. ACP developers are guaranteed a yearly profit of 15% on top of the more than $7 billion pipeline price tag. Dominion and its partner Duke Energy plan to pass all the costs onto their captive utility ratepayers.
The proposed route for Dominion’s 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline has been a mess from the beginning. It carves through family farms, steep mountain ridges, and public water supplies, and it is slated to cross the Appalachian Trail on U.S. Forest Service land, a move that federal judges say is not legal.
Rather than reconsider their poorly-planned project, Dominion is asking the U.S. Congress to change laws to make way for its unneeded gas pipeline.
Tell your senators and your representative in Congress that you oppose legislation that would change the rules to make way for Dominion’s unpopular, expensive, and destructive pipeline.
Thank you for taking action to protect the mountain streams, family farms, private property, water supplies, and Appalachian Trail that we all cherish.
What’s It About
Dominion is in trouble. It’s been five years since the company announced that it would build a high-pressure gas pipeline from West Virginia, across the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, into North Carolina. Today, the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is broadly unpopular, 50 percent over budget (now a shocking $7.5+ billion), and two years behind schedule.
In December 2018, a federal court in Richmond said that Dominion’s plan to cross the Appalachian Trail (AT) was not legal, and it overturned the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of the crossing. Dominion is calling on Congress to come to its rescue, asking senators and representatives to change the law and undo the court’s ruling.
This special treatment would undercut the regulatory process in two significant ways:
o ACP legislation would insert Congress into an ongoing process to the detriment of landowners, utility customers, and public lands users. ACP’s proposed route is still under review by agencies and courts, including separate cases challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s biological opinion and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s certificate. The outcome of this agency and judicial review could significantly change the route and even result in a fundamental rethinking of the entire project.
o Legislation would create the troubling precedent that pipeline developers could call on Congress to fix permitting problems for ill-conceived projects that run afoul of the law. And Congress doesn’t need to act. Despite the exaggerated claims from Dominion, oil and gas pipelines do not cross the AT on national forest lands. It simply has not been necessary. Dominion has other routing options which the Fourth Circuit found it failed to study.
The Forest Service permit allowing the AT crossing is one of seven permits that federal courts have overturned or put on hold, all because of Dominion’s careless route selection and rushed permitting. ACP’s proposed permanently cleared right-of-way, as wide as a seven-lane highway, will spoil scenic views from the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
And it’s increasingly clear that the pipeline is not needed to meet electricity and gas demand. In 2018, Virginia regulators found that Dominion already owns enough pipeline capacity to serve its existing power plants. Remarkably, Dominion has not produced a study demonstrating a need for the ACP.
Worse, electricity customers in Virginia and North Carolina would be on the hook to pay for the costly new pipeline. ACP developers are guaranteed a yearly profit of 15% on top of the more than $7 billion pipeline price tag. Dominion and its partner Duke Energy plan to pass all the costs onto their captive utility ratepayers.
Virginia Congressional Delegation—Contact Information
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D)
Abingdon Office
121 Russell Road, Suite 2 Abingdon, VA 24210 Phone: (276) 525-4790 Fax: (276) 525-4792
Danville Office
308 Craghead Street, Suite 102A Danville, VA 24541
Phone: (434) 792-0976
Fax: (434) 792-0978
Manassas Office
9408 Grant Avenue, Suite 202 Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 361-3192
Fax: (703) 361-3198
Richmond Office
919 East Main Street, Suite 970 Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 771-2221
Fax: (804) 771-8313
Roanoke Office
611 S. Jefferson Street, Suite 5B Roanoke, VA 24011
Phone: (540) 682-5693
Fax: (540) 682-5697
Virginia Beach Office
222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 120 Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: (757) 518-1674
Fax: (757) 518-1679
Washington, DC Office
231 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4024
Fax: (202) 228-6363
U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D)
Abingdon Office
180 West Main Street, Room 235 Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: 276-628-8158
Norfolk Office
101 W. Main Street, Suite 7771 Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: 757-441-3079
Richmond Office
919 E. Main Street, Suite 630 Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-775-2314
Roanoke Office
110 Kirk Avenue, SW Roanoke, VA 24011 Phone: 540-857-2676
Vienna Office
8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 200 Vienna, Virginia 22182
Phone: 703-442-0670
Washington, DC Office
703 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Toll Free: 1-877-676-2759
(VA residents only)
Phone: 202-224-2023
District 1: Rep. Rob Wittman (R)
Hanover Office
6501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, # 102 Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Phone: (804) 730-6595
Fax: (804) 730-6597
Stafford Office
95 Dunn Drive, # 201 Stafford, Virginia 22556 Phone: (540) 659-2734 Fax: (540) 659-2737
Tappahannock Office
508 Church Lane
P.O. Box 3106 Tappahannock, VA 22560 Phone: (804) 443-0668 Fax: (804) 443-0671
Washington, DC Office
2055 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4261
Fax: (202) 225-4382
District 2: Rep. Elaine Luria (D)
Eastern Shore Office
25020 Shore Parkway, Suite 1B Onley, VA 23418
Phone: (757) 364-7631
Virginia Beach Office
283 Constitution Drive
One Columbus Center, Suite 900 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Phone: (757) 364-7650
Fax: (757) 687-8298
Washington, DC Office 534 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4215
District 3: Rep. Bobby Scott (D)
District Office
2600 Washington Ave., # 1010 Newport News, VA 23607 Phone: (757) 380-1000
Fax: (757) 928-6694
Washington, D.C. Office
1201 Longworth House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-8351
Fax: (202) 225-8354
District 4: Rep. Donald McEachin
Central Virginia Office
110 North Robinson St, # 403 Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: 804-486-1840
Fax: 804-269-4139
Hampton Roads Office
131 N. Saratoga St, Suite B Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: 757-942-6050
Washington, DC Office
314 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6365
Fax: 202-226-1170
District 5: Rep. Denver Riggleman (R)
Charlottesville Office
686 Berkmar Circle Charlottesville, VA 22901 Phone: (434) 973-9631
Danville Office
308 Craghead St, Suite 102-D Danville, VA 24541
Phone: (434) 791-2596
Washington, DC Office 1022 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4711
District 6: Rep. Ben Cline (R)
Harrisonburg Office
70 N Mason St, Suite 110 Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Phone: (540) 432-2391 Fax: (540) 432-6593
Lynchburg Office
916 Main St, Suite 300 Lynchburg, VA 24504 Phone: (434) 845-8306 Fax: (434) 845-8245
Roanoke Office
10 Franklin Rd SE, Suite 510 Roanoke, VA 24011
Phone: (540) 857-2672
Fax: (540) 857-2675
Staunton Office
117 S Lewis St, Suite 215 Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 885-3861 Fax: (540) 885-3930
Washington Office
1009 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5431
Fax: (202) 225-9681
District 7: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D)
Glen Allen Office
4201 Dominion Blvd, # 110 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Phone: (804) 401-4110
Spotsylvania Office
9104 Courthouse Rd
Room 249
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 Phone: Coming soon.
Call (202) 225-2815 for now
Washington, DC Office 1239 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2815
District 8: Rep. Don Beyer (D)
District Office
1901 N. Moore St., # 1108 Arlington, VA 22209
P: (703) 658-5403
F: (703) 658-5408
Washington, DC Office 1119 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 P: (202) 225-4376
F: (202) 225-0017
District 9: Rep. Morgan Griffith (R)
Abingdon District Office 323 West Main Street Abingdon, VA 24210
T (276) 525-1405
F (276) 525-1444
Christiansburg District Office 17 West Main Street Christiansburg, VA 24073
T (540) 381-5671
F (540) 381-5675
Big Stone Gap Office Federal Courthouse
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 T (276) 525-1405
By Appointment Only
Washington, DC Office 2202 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 T (202) 225-3861
F (202) 225-0076
District 10: Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D)
Sterling Office
21351 Gentry Drive, # 140 Sterling, VA 20166 Phone: (703) 234-3800
Washington, DC Office 1217 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5136 Fax: 202-225-0437
District 11: Rep. Gerry Connolly (D)
Annandale Office
4115 Annandale Road, Ste. 103 Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: (703) 256-3071
Fax: (703) 354-1284
Prince William Office 2241-D Tacketts Mill Drive Woodbridge, VA 22192 Phone: (571) 408-4407 Fax: (571) 408-4708
Washington, DC Office 2238 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-1492
U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D)
Abingdon Office
121 Russell Road, Suite 2 Abingdon, VA 24210 Phone: (276) 525-4790 Fax: (276) 525-4792
Danville Office
308 Craghead Street, Suite 102A Danville, VA 24541
Phone: (434) 792-0976
Fax: (434) 792-0978
Manassas Office
9408 Grant Avenue, Suite 202 Manassas, VA 20110
Phone: (703) 361-3192
Fax: (703) 361-3198
Richmond Office
919 East Main Street, Suite 970 Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 771-2221
Fax: (804) 771-8313
Roanoke Office
611 S. Jefferson Street, Suite 5B Roanoke, VA 24011
Phone: (540) 682-5693
Fax: (540) 682-5697
Virginia Beach Office
222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 120 Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: (757) 518-1674
Fax: (757) 518-1679
Washington, DC Office
231 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4024
Fax: (202) 228-6363
U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D)
Abingdon Office
180 West Main Street, Room 235 Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: 276-628-8158
Norfolk Office
101 W. Main Street, Suite 7771 Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: 757-441-3079
Richmond Office
919 E. Main Street, Suite 630 Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-775-2314
Roanoke Office
110 Kirk Avenue, SW Roanoke, VA 24011 Phone: 540-857-2676
Vienna Office
8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 200 Vienna, Virginia 22182
Phone: 703-442-0670
Washington, DC Office
703 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Toll Free: 1-877-676-2759
(VA residents only)
Phone: 202-224-2023
District 1: Rep. Rob Wittman (R)
Hanover Office
6501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, # 102 Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Phone: (804) 730-6595
Fax: (804) 730-6597
Stafford Office
95 Dunn Drive, # 201 Stafford, Virginia 22556 Phone: (540) 659-2734 Fax: (540) 659-2737
Tappahannock Office
508 Church Lane
P.O. Box 3106 Tappahannock, VA 22560 Phone: (804) 443-0668 Fax: (804) 443-0671
Washington, DC Office
2055 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4261
Fax: (202) 225-4382
District 2: Rep. Elaine Luria (D)
Eastern Shore Office
25020 Shore Parkway, Suite 1B Onley, VA 23418
Phone: (757) 364-7631
Virginia Beach Office
283 Constitution Drive
One Columbus Center, Suite 900 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Phone: (757) 364-7650
Fax: (757) 687-8298
Washington, DC Office 534 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4215
District 3: Rep. Bobby Scott (D)
District Office
2600 Washington Ave., # 1010 Newport News, VA 23607 Phone: (757) 380-1000
Fax: (757) 928-6694
Washington, D.C. Office
1201 Longworth House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-8351
Fax: (202) 225-8354
District 4: Rep. Donald McEachin
Central Virginia Office
110 North Robinson St, # 403 Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: 804-486-1840
Fax: 804-269-4139
Hampton Roads Office
131 N. Saratoga St, Suite B Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: 757-942-6050
Washington, DC Office
314 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6365
Fax: 202-226-1170
District 5: Rep. Denver Riggleman (R)
Charlottesville Office
686 Berkmar Circle Charlottesville, VA 22901 Phone: (434) 973-9631
Danville Office
308 Craghead St, Suite 102-D Danville, VA 24541
Phone: (434) 791-2596
Washington, DC Office 1022 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4711
District 6: Rep. Ben Cline (R)
Harrisonburg Office
70 N Mason St, Suite 110 Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Phone: (540) 432-2391 Fax: (540) 432-6593
Lynchburg Office
916 Main St, Suite 300 Lynchburg, VA 24504 Phone: (434) 845-8306 Fax: (434) 845-8245
Roanoke Office
10 Franklin Rd SE, Suite 510 Roanoke, VA 24011
Phone: (540) 857-2672
Fax: (540) 857-2675
Staunton Office
117 S Lewis St, Suite 215 Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 885-3861 Fax: (540) 885-3930
Washington Office
1009 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5431
Fax: (202) 225-9681
District 7: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D)
Glen Allen Office
4201 Dominion Blvd, # 110 Glen Allen, VA 23060 Phone: (804) 401-4110
Spotsylvania Office
9104 Courthouse Rd
Room 249
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 Phone: Coming soon.
Call (202) 225-2815 for now
Washington, DC Office 1239 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2815
District 8: Rep. Don Beyer (D)
District Office
1901 N. Moore St., # 1108 Arlington, VA 22209
P: (703) 658-5403
F: (703) 658-5408
Washington, DC Office 1119 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 P: (202) 225-4376
F: (202) 225-0017
District 9: Rep. Morgan Griffith (R)
Abingdon District Office 323 West Main Street Abingdon, VA 24210
T (276) 525-1405
F (276) 525-1444
Christiansburg District Office 17 West Main Street Christiansburg, VA 24073
T (540) 381-5671
F (540) 381-5675
Big Stone Gap Office Federal Courthouse
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 T (276) 525-1405
By Appointment Only
Washington, DC Office 2202 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 T (202) 225-3861
F (202) 225-0076
District 10: Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D)
Sterling Office
21351 Gentry Drive, # 140 Sterling, VA 20166 Phone: (703) 234-3800
Washington, DC Office 1217 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5136 Fax: 202-225-0437
District 11: Rep. Gerry Connolly (D)
Annandale Office
4115 Annandale Road, Ste. 103 Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: (703) 256-3071
Fax: (703) 354-1284
Prince William Office 2241-D Tacketts Mill Drive Woodbridge, VA 22192 Phone: (571) 408-4407 Fax: (571) 408-4708
Washington, DC Office 2238 Rayburn HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-1492
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