Tell FERC: No more pipelines!

In 1978, Congress passed legislation establishing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The law included a requirement that FERC create an Office of Public Participation.

It never did.

Too many people in Appalachia and across America have for years experienced frustration with the process FERC uses to approve fracked-gas pipelines and other infrastructure, not to mention the tremendous harm to private property and shared natural resources that occur when those projects are built.

Now, finally, FERC is moving to establish the Office of Public Participation (OPP). On Wednesday, March 17 between 1:00 and 2:30pm (EST), the commission will hold a listening session for landowners and communities.

Speakers will have about three minutes to present their concerns. You can also submit written comments, but focus on what you most want FERC to know in your 3 minutes. Tell FERC the rest in written comments or in a later listening session if they fit the topic.

Sign up now!

Not sure what to say? Here are some ideas:

• Did you get the information you needed when you needed it?
• Did you understand the process and your rights so you could exercise them?
• What were your experiences with the land agent? Surveyors?
• How did these experiences affect you? Your health? Your property?
• How were your concerns respected?
• How were your plans for your property respected?
• What response did you get to your concerns?
• Did FERC hear you? The company? Local government? State government?
• How much time and money did you have to spend to protect your rights?
• What did you think about the way the public meetings were conducted?
• What do you still need to know or have resolved?

Sign up here through Eventbrite Let’s raise our voices so FERC has to hear us!

We need to ALL set aside this 90 minutes. We must show FERC our solidarity, that we care and that landowners and community members want to be heard! Tell your friends and help them sign up, too.

There will be a total of four OPP listening sessions.

1. Landowners and Communities Affected by Infrastructure Development | Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

2. Environmental Justice Communities and Tribal Interests | Monday, March 22, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

3. Tribal Governments| Wednesday, March 24, 2021, Session 1: 10:00 to 11:30 AM EST, Session 2: 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

4. Energy Consumers and Consumer Advocates | Thursday, March 25, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST

Please share this message widely ASAP!

The post Tell FERC: No more pipelines! appeared first on Appalachian Voices.

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