Dominion seeks new route for Atlantic Coast pipeline
Published by Stephanie Roker,
Editor
World Pipelines,
After being denied approval to run through two national forests due to concerns about endangered wildlife, the Atlantic Coast pipeline has now proposed a new route. The new route for the US$5 billion, 1.5 billion ft3 natural gas the pipeline, is intended to travel through West Virginia and Virginia.
The original route
The originally proposed route was denied after environmental and wildlife concerns; particular focus was on the endangered salamanders, flying squirrels and red spruce ecosystem restoration areas.
The US Forest Service – which must support the pipeline in order for the route to be approved – had stated that the line was short of the “minimum requirements” when it came to the safeguarding of wildlife.
The route would have transported natural gas through the Monongahela and George Washington national forests.
Dominion
Dominion has stated that has been working with the US Forest Service in order to select the new course.
It has been revealed that a review of the pipeline route is set to begin soon, after a US Forest Service spokesman confirmed receipt.
Although spokesman Jason Kirchner stated that "the screening will determine if the proposed route meets required criteria for protecting sensitive resources," many still oppose the pipeline; it appears that Dominion would reduce one-third of the pipeline's footprint through the new route, but would add 30 miles to the already 550 mile project.
The arguments
Staff Attorney for Appalachian Mountain Advocates, Ben Luckett, argued: "This new route would still cause dramatic forest fragmentation through some of the most high-quality forest habitat in our region.”
Though the supporters of the Atlantic Coats pipeline believe it will create jobs and attract outside businesses who are looking for cheap natural gas from the fracking fields in West Virginia, many still hold the concern of environmental damages and the impact the pipeline will have on the endangered wildlife.
Edited from various sources by Stephanie Roker
Sources: ABC News, Daily Mail, Richmond Times Dispatch, Climate Progress
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/16022016/dominion-seeks-new-route-for-atlantic-coast-pipeline/
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