Triangle Business Journal
by Lauren K. Ohnesorge
Duke Energy and Dominion Energy, the utilities behind the planned Atlantic Coast Pipeline, have secured the permission of another federal entity to break ground on the 600-mile project.
In issuing a favorable “record of decision,” the U.S. Forest Service is authorizing the construction, operation and maintenance of the pipeline on forest service lands.
The document comes about a month after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its own approval for the project, which could some day pump fracked natural gas from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina.
In a statement about the latest milestone, Dominion spokesman Aaron Ruby says the approval shows ACP “can responsibly develop infrastructure in a way that preserves the environment and protects our natural resources.”
Regardless, some landowners along the planned route say they’re not budging in their opposition to the project.
“There’s no pipeline coming to our family land, no matter how many regulatory passes they have,” says Halifax County landowner Valerie Williams. “The land is not theirs.”
She declined further comment.
She’s not alone. According to Ruby, about 20 percent of impacted landowners have yet to sign easements.
As a last resort, he has said the company is prepared to pursue eminent domain litigation.
Unlike agencies seeking to acquire land for highways and railroad tracks, ACP isn’t seeking outright acquisition as it solicits landowners. Instead, it wants permission to put the pipeline under fields and farmland that the landowner will continue to possess – and that’s part of the problem, say critics.
While a landowner will continue to pay taxes on land housing a pipeline, he or she will be restricted in how they use the parcel. While farmers can still use the land to grow crops and pasture cattle, landowners can’t build structures over pipelines – and some people we talked to earlier this year said it’s an option they’d like to keep for their properties.
They also fear impact to property values. ACP is offering one-time compensation checks, meaning future owners of impacted parcels won’t see any direct financial benefit in housing the pipeline on their land.
Additionally, landowners say they’re afraid that natural gas pipelines near their homes presents a constant danger – fears ACP has repeatedly called unfounded.
In taking natural gas-toting trucks off the highways, ACP officials contend the utilities will be improving safety through the project. And they say they've seen a lot of support from landowners.
Kevin Dougherty, founder and president of real estate developer AdVenture Development has signed an easement for land he and his business owns in Johnston County. He calls the pipeline “an important element” in Johnston County’s growth.
“The regulatory process they’ve been put through is thorough and fair,” he says Friday. “I recognize some people don’t want it through their property, and I certainly understand that, but in our case, we think it’s valuable to help to contribute to the growth of the region.”
ACP continues to await approvals from the state, which has made multiple requests for more information before it will grant the utilities permission to build. ACP still hopes to receive necessary permissions and break ground before the end of the year.
Read the full article in Triangle Business Journal