WHO IS FERC?

FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) is an independent federal regulatory agency that:

• Regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas
• Reviews proposals to build interstate natural gas pipelines
• Conducts National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews of these proposals

HOW TO SEND A COMMENT TO FERC 

How to Send a Comment to FERC  – PDF

Would you like to submit a comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to let them know how you feel about the proposed pipelines? Below are some ideas for comments and here is how you do it:

1. Go to https://ferconline.ferc.gov/and click on “e-Comment.”
2. Fill in the information field and look for an e-mail from FERC.
3. Click on the link in that email and enter the docket number for the pipeline you wish to comment on:Mountain Valley Pipeline PF15-3
4. You may also click “e-Subscribe” to receive alerts and the content of other comments.
5. If you wish to submit a hand written or typed comment you may mail it to:

Ms. Kimberly Bose, Secretary

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street NE, Room 1A

WONDERING WHAT TO SAY IN YOUR COMMENTS?

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS:

Dangers to our community:

• 42 inch pipelines are the largest of the gas pipelines. Pipelines often leak and explode, creating dangerous conditions for our residents.
• Streams, creeks and rivers will be impacted by construction activities and our fresh water resources may be contaminated by leaks.
• Trucks and heavy equipment would clog our roads and will contribute to increased diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid pollution in our communities.
• The building of this pipeline would necessitate more hydraulic-fracturing (“fracking”) which would use millions of gallons of fresh water and thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals for each well drilled. Much of this fresh water stays a mile down in the ground, lost to the natural cycle, never to be available again.
• Medical studies confirm that oil and gas spills release radioactive isotopes into land, water and air.  This seepage of toxic chemicals would negatively impact our health.

Impacts to landowners:

• A 75 foot permanent easement would limit the use of farmland and timber resources.
• Properties on which the pipeline would be constructed will lose value as will neighboring properties.
• Compressor stations – necessary to push the gas through the pipeline – are large, noisy and leak hydrocarbons into the air which would disrupt the use of land near and around them. There would also be significant stress caused by constant noise and traffic.
• MVP will make a one-time payment for an easement. That easement severely restricts what can be done on that property and jeopardizes the future safety and stability of that land. The property owners would still be responsible for property taxes on that land.
• Many properties will suffer diminished value and will be assessed at a lesser value. This will result in a tax loss for these localities. Property sales potential would be diminished. Some banks may not issue mortgages because of industrial use of the land. Some banks may even call in existing mortgages because of the decreased value of land.

Impacts to our land:

• Many counties where the pipelines are proposed have karst geology. Karst limestone contains vulnerable water supplies. Leaks from a pipeline buried in this type of terrain would go unfiltered into the caves, underground streams and drinking water sources.
• A 125 food wide construction right of way cut through our forested mountains would scar the landscape and fragment timber resources and hunting.

Tip: Your own issues in your own words will have the greatest impact.

What do you most care about?
How will this pipeline most affect you?
How to Send a Comment to FERC  – PDF

Local groups and organizations!  Please note.  Below are links to a Resolution Template for your group to ‘personalize’ and use to make a statement against the EQT pipeline and its negative effects for the area.  You can add or delete information as needed and then please file with FERC. It is important for us to send FERC the message that this pipeline is not wanted by many different groups and organizations as well as individuals.

Resolution_Template.docx (Newer Microsoft Word XML document format)

Resolution_Template.doc (Older Microsoft Word document format)