Public Comment Opportunities — 2017

The developers of the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline are charging ahead to try to rush these projects through.

This summer and fall, there are multiple opportunities for citizens to engage in the process at the state and federal level, both submitting written comments and turning out for public hearings.

Bookmark this page in your browser and check back often for new or changed information!

We will be continuously updating this page with more details and links to talking points and information to help you compose and send your comments (written or verbal).

NORTH CAROLINA

The state Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing a “401 water quality certification” for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline under the federal Clean Water Act. Public comment deadline is August 19. Two public hearings will be held.

• July 18, Tuesday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Sign in starts at 5 p.m.)
  Fayetteville Technical Community College
  Cumberland Hall Auditorium
  2201 Hull Rd., Fayetteville, NC.
• July 20, Thursday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Sign in starts at 5 p.m.)
  Nash Community College
  Brown Auditorium
  522 N. Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount, NC.

VIRGINIA

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing “401 water quality certifications” for both the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines.

• July 19, Wednesday,
  State Water Control Board regularly scheduled meeting. The pipeline certification may not be on the board’s agenda, but citizens can, and are encouraged to comment on the pipelines during the open comment period.

FEDERAL

The U.S. Forest Service will be issuing a legal notice of decision for each of the pipelines’ proposed crossings of publicly owned federal lands, and will take public comments on those decisions. (There are no public hearings associated with these decision documents.)

• Late June through mid-September
  Public comment on Mountain Valley Pipeline decision
• Mid-July through mid-October
  Public comment on Atlantic Coast Pipeline decision

(The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will also be issuing a Final Environmental Impact Statement for each pipeline, and subsequently a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for each pipeline, but there no formal public comment periods or hearings for these actions.)

Protecting the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountain Region