Tell DEQ: No pipeline compressor station in historic Union Hill

Dominion Energy wants to build a massive fracked gas compressor station for its Atlantic Coast Pipeline in the historic African-American community of Union Hill in Buckingham County, Va.

Though the compressor station is classified as a minor source of air pollution, the giant 54,000 horsepower engine would run 24/7, creating toxic air emissions and near-constant noise pollution and harming the health and well-being of nearby communities. You can learn about the air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and particulate that the compressor station will emit on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Topics webpage.

Dominion needs an air pollution permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in order to build the compressor station. Tell the DEQ to protect Union Hill and reject the permit for Dominion’s dangerous compressor station.

On Aug. 1, the agency announced that it is opening a public comment period and will hold a hearing to obtain community input on the draft air permit. Additional information about the project and the technology that will be used can be found in DEQ’s draft permit announcement.

DEQ Director David Paylor, has determined that the permit will go before the State Air Pollution Control Board. Once the 35-day comment period has concluded, DEQ will compile and review comments and present its summary and recommendations to the State Air Pollution Control Board a few months later (likely in early November) for a final decision.

You can find the draft air permit here and additional background information from DEQ here.
Check back often. We’ll post additional information about the air permit decision-making process, talking points and a petition soon!

Buckingham Compressor Station Draft Air Permit comment period & hearing details

Comment Period

35-day comment period. Aug. 8 – Sept. 11.

How to provide a written comment

You may bring your comment to DEQ in person, or you can submit it by email, fax or postal mail. Comments must be in writing and include your name, mailing address and phone number.

DEQ Address (for postal mail or hand-delivery)

Piedmont Regional Office
RE: Buckingham Compressor Station
4949-A Cox Rd
Glen Allen, VA 23060
DEQ email: [email protected]
DEQ Fax: (804) 527-5106

Public Hearing

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, 5-9:30 p.m. or until all comments are received.
Buckingham County Middle School
1184 High School Road, Buckingham, VA 23921
(off of Hwy 60/West James Anderson Hwy)

How to provide a comment at the hearing: Those wishing to speak will be given a three-minute time restriction in order to allow as many people as possible that want to speak an opportunity to do so in the allotted time. Be sure to arrive early to sign up to speak.

The post Tell DEQ: No pipeline compressor station in historic Union Hill appeared first on Appalachian Voices.

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