The News Virginian
by Anne Seaton
Three years ago this month, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline was announced. After three years of hearings, meetings and public comment periods, I continue to proudly support this project. While opponents continue to tout “independent” studies attacking this project, the facts remain that natural gas pipelines are nothing new, are built safely, and receive appropriate levels of regulatory oversight before, during, and after construction.
The Army Corps of Engineers’ permit process has been used for years across the country to provide protection for streams and wetlands during pipeline construction. The corps has the expertise to regulate and manage the construction of large utility projects and provide the necessary environmental protections for streams and wetlands.
Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality has a role in this project and will conduct its due diligence to ensure proper measures are taken to protect the public and the environment.
However I find it perplexing that the same people who falsely claim this pipeline will increase energy prices are strongly advocating for DEQ to take actions that would be redundant and place a strain on an agency that relies on taxpayer dollars.
Site specific construction techniques will already be required when crossing sensitive areas and streams. DEQ has years of experience dealing with infrastructure projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and I applaud the agency for continuing to do its job, rather than cave to political noise. If you have paid attention to this project from start to finish, it is evident that project leaders and the many regulatory agencies involved are taking it seriously. Reroutes were made frequently before settling on a final one, and tens of thousands of pages of reports have been completed.
The years of unprecedented review for this project will ensure it is built safely, and I am confident residents of Waynesboro and the surrounding area won’t even know it is there once completed.
Anne Seaton
Waynesboro
Read the full letter to the editor in The News Virginian