When they come to offer you money for a little pipeline

I got a call yesterday, "will you take $40,000 to let the ACP cross your property?

ACP is the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, taking Fracked Gas from the marcellus shale to north carolina.
 
There's so many things I hate about this pipeline, It is certainly being billed as a "done deal", and FERC is known to be a rubberstamp for the gas industry.

Of course I will be much more screwed if I resist and wait for eminent domain to take my property anyway, but I will feel like a traitor if I co operate and give the ok which might make it easier for them to get the permit.

I was talking with an environmental defense lawyer working against this and he said that people need to believe they can win

On the one hand this seems like a tremendous opportunity, on the other hand it seems like I'd be selling my soul (and abandoning the Earth care /people care ethics)

Right now I'm leaning toward not negotiating, I just wish the whole thing would disappear.

I would be asking myself two questions.

1: How much good can I do with this money?

2: How much more money might I be able to squeeze out of them


In my personal opinion... all the fighting in the world won't win. Sure it might not pass through your property, but they'll just take the 40,000 they were going to pay you and give it to someone else, with a bit of extra cost to go around you.

With the caveat that I'm neither a lawyer nor experienced in such matters and am basically speculating:

Maybe there is nothing that you can do, but I would personally do everything I can to make sure of that.

I found this: http://friendsofnelson.com/

If it were me I would only oppose if I could join other land owners and if I thought there was a chance, even a small chance, of winning. The more these pipeline serve corporations at the expense of people the more they will continue to run rough-shod over our land.

The truth is that $40k is likely peanuts for what you are being forced to deal with. If this were here and it was my land I can tell you that my property value would drop by a heck of a lot more than that and I would hold out for top dollar if I really thought it was inevitable. Literally at least double if not 3x. I mean, one accident anywhere on the ACP and your ability to sell at all will be severely diminished, never mind what might happen if the leak was on your land. And don't forget that that pay-off is taxable income, so you need to compare that against the drop in your property value on those terms. If it were me I'd consider offering to sell the whole property. Maybe not before I chained myself to a dozer.

I'm really sorry you have to deal with this. Good luck and stay strong!

Thanks for the thoughts, I do plan to go over to a "property rights revival"  tomorrow in Nelson,  I've been fighting this thing since we found out back in 2014.

It's like some sort of cosmic test to see if I was really serious.

My original thought was that my actual losses would be around 70k, so I wouldn't have taken the 40k anyway (at least theoretically) . It's just that thinking about that amount of money is a lot different than a real person saying he'll rush right over and hand it to you.

I know there are lots of landowners around saying hell no, like the ones next to me  were doing until the offers started flying, and now they are just looking to get their best deal. I personally think they are way underestimating the actual damages and settling way too cheap,  Of course my idea of not dealing with them at all doesn't seem to be in anybody's mind now that there's the smell of money in the wind.

I did think about the taxes on that sudden windfall, and the idea of setting up a Permaculture trust that could be non profit and receive the money tax free, pay for all the ongoing permaculture developments and a small salary for me.

Anybody got ideas about what sort of trust and how complicated that might be.

Bill talked about a permaculture religion down in S america somewhere, maybe I could set up a church and say good bye to all of the land taxes and all forever. Permaculture ethics rival the moral values of most religions, and for me it is a religion more than just a growing system anyway

The property rights "Revival" was quite interesting.  They had an easement burning and people were burning their offers in a campfire sort of thing. They even had blank pages for people to burn so they could be part of the ritual even if they didn't have their easement documents with them

It was nice to have some people of like minds around, and even if the pipeline goes through I definitely feel more a part of the general  local community and like we're standing up together.  Money isn't everything!

Well when we got the oil lease papers we talked to our lawyer about not signing and thus stopping the whole thing. He said if we did that they'd petition the oil and gas commission and blah blah blah basically it'd happen anyway but we'd get less money.

So I'd ask someone if your not signing would have any impact, cuz it might not.

That's one of the things that is impossible to say without a crystal ball.
I guess the smart money would be on the ACP winning their certificate and eventually running over me, but even then they are supposed to pay me a fair price, although that would likely involve lawyers and time--and less money.

I just can't give in without at least voicing my opposition to the project and putting my money where my mouth is. Otherwise if I accept their offer I'm just enabling them to do their worst.

bob day wrote:That's one of the things that is impossible to say without a crystal ball.
I guess the smart money would be on the ACP winning their certificate and eventually running over me, but even then they are supposed to pay me a fair price, although that would likely involve lawyers and time--and less money.

I just can't give in without at least voicing my opposition to the project and putting my money where my mouth is. Otherwise if I accept their offer I'm just enabling them to do their worst.

I can't say for the pipeline but I was told if we refused and they went to the commission we would be made partners. Meaning we were also responsible for the expense of drilling, etc.

The pipeline doesn't work that way.  We are in the pre draft environmental impact statement  phase. The pipeline does not have it's permit so it cannot declare eminent domain and force anyone to do anything (except for surveying which some circuit court judges have allowed under a va law.

Once they get the permit they just take your land or take you to jail if you try and stop them.  they don't even have to pay you right away, although eventually you can sue for damages if their offer isn't fair.

I don't know about the oil lease business, and I've heard of them trying to sue people for drilling costs when wells become more expensive than they're worth. I've also heard those attempts to charge landowners were thrown out of court and I doubt they could force you to become a partner.  But I don't doubt those guys will lie with a smile on their face in front of a state policeman, because they did that when they came to survey my property.

I have not one, but two pipelines that go through my 7 acres.

They put a new replacement line in two years ago.  40K is about 10K better than what I got.

We negotiated back and forth and I got them to come up a little.


The people who fought tooth and nail now have the new replacement pipeline just like I got, but with the same or less money, and more legal bills.


Extremely doubtful you can stop it.


You may get a little extra money to replace trees that they have to take down.


I feel your pain....

It depends on how much land I could buy in the area for that price. If I could buy another , nicer, bigger, property , I would probably try to sell mine outright and move somewhere that might have less intrusions.

Thanks for the input.  Yes, I have thought about other properties and the possibility of moving, and that may come up at some point.  I have decided to at least give them the opportunity to make a better offer (in writing) and specifically itemize on a map exactly how they will be working as far as their truck traffic and such, how my access will be affected, and the location of temporary work spaces, what maintenance schedules to expect, etc etc.

I wasn't even willing to think about it for a while, but the cold water realism splashed me in the face as I was reading Trumps policies toward gas and oil development. I believe in the long run they are overstructuring these supply lines for export capacity, since most of the experts say minor modifications would easily supply our power needs, but with 11 new pipeline projects supposedly doing the same thing it is clear that they are playing hide and seek with the gas, trying to force us to accept their intrusion through eminent domain , which could not be claimed for export. So on paper each of these pipelines supplies domestic gas for the permit, while actually scurrying to cove point and a new terminal planned for the Gulf of Mexico.  

Also, we could get some percentage yearly instead of a one time payment if not for eminent domain.

It seems pretty clear that solar and wind are poised to make another incremental jump in supply, and could very well be that the final outcome is a bunch of gas electric plants that primarily are just backups for renewables, and a pipeline that ends up not running at capacity as the world weans itself from fossil.It does appear that whatever happens,renewables are poised to drive energy prices through the floor within ten to 20 years. Maybe I can set up my systems, walk away with occasional visits to maintain them, and return after fruit trees are well into production and the pipeline /compressor station is at a low ebb or has become obsolete.

Of course it would still be better if we weren't destroying ecosystems and old growth forests to install a  limited functionality pipeline that will outlive its usefulness relatively quickly.

Unfortunately the outcome of the election does kind of change things or at least add a greater element of risk.

The 100 day action plan of our president elect includes:

"... lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward"

when I hear things like that I just want to run away, unfortunately places to run get fewer and fewer. I imagine everyone on both sides of the energy issues are rethinking their positions. Maybe the pipeline people will feel emboldened and reduce their original offer.

Whatever happens, I likely have another year or so before tshtf,

Bob, part of the reason I posted that is because I'm very afraid that is the case. The emboldening has already begun in other areas...

If it were me I'd be seriously thinking of cutting a deal and moving on. Everything I said above was predicated on a different election outcome. That said, out of curiousity I did some quick research on how to approach the problem and if you haven't already, it's very informative to google this. Makes me think that while you may not be able to stop it, you have much more power than you realize. Eminent domain is not always imminent and pipelines have been stopped by landowners holding out for a better deal -- it just got too expensive. Or at least it stands to reason that the first offer is not going to be the best one.

This one for example: http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20141018/News/141019242

Also, aside from being compensated fairly (and I maintain that $40k isn't likely fair) I personally would consider it my duty to make that pipeline as expensive as possible


Edit: This: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/Pipeline-companies-should-pay-for-full-value-of-5493007.php

And this: https://www.ewu.edu/Documents/CBPA/NWTTAP/ROW/Rights%20of%20Way%20-%20Landowner's%20Guide.pdf


Edit 2: http://thelandlawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/FAQs-about-Atlantic-Coast-Pipeline.pdf

"Q: Can Dominion take my property?
A: Yes, if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues Dominion a Certificate of Public Necessity and all appeals
challenging the Certificate are exhausted. Even then, Dominion must follow the legal requirements to obtain title to
property, which first requires Dominion to attempt to obtain the property through a voluntary agreement. Dominion also
cannot take more land than is necessary for the pipeline. Dominion will not obtain title to the land until either an agreement
is reached, compensation is paid, and an easement is recorded, or a Court order confirms title.
Q: How much does Dominion have to pay for the easement?
A: Dominion must pay just compensation, which equals the fair market value of the property interests that are being
acquired plus damages to the property that remains."

In one case, for another pipeline the compensation after a court battle went from an initial offer of $80k to $1.6 MILLION (http://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/2014/08/11/compensation-considerations-when-pipeline-companies-cross-your-land/)


Edit 3, and I promise to shut up now:

A user on this forum received more than twice the original offer by negotiating:

https://permies.com/t/19313/pipeline-property-plant-trees-bushes

Just a quick update,

It's been a couple weeks now and I haven't heard anything more, I haven't contacted them, they haven't contacted me. My neighbor had his offer increased from 20 k  up to 70 k, but he decided not to deal, so at least for now I will enjoy my peace that denial brings, and just pretend that first offer didn't happen.

If they come back with 100k all bets are off, but i would still have to think about it.

If you haven't thought about it, this will decrease your property value.

bob day wrote:Just a quick update, It's been a couple weeks now and I haven't heard anything more, I haven't contacted them, they haven't contacted me. My neighbor had his offer increased from 20 k  up to 70 k, but he decided not to deal, so at least for now I will enjoy my peace that denial brings, and just pretend that first offer didn't happen. If they come back with 100k all bets are off, but i would still have to think about it.  

While you are waiting, here is some information that might be helpful:

Keep a journal of your entire interaction  from  the  first  visit  to  the  completion  of  the  project,  get names if you talk to anyone and note dates.  It is best to have another person present during your talks, if someone is with you make  a  note  of  it.    Keep  that  journal  at  hand  over  the  years  to  document ongoing dealings with the Grantee [all entities seeking an easement].  Take a few rolls of pictures  before  the  initial  survey,  before  and  after  construction  and  before  and  after  any  maintenance.    Develop  the  film  right  
away and label the snapshots, give  a brief description of the shot and  date  it.    Keep  the  photos  with  the  journal.    The  Grantee [all entities seeking an easement]  is  responsible for any damages occurring as a result of his activities on your property.

You are going to be presented with a sheaf of papers during the easement process.  The most important document is the Grant of  Easement  and  Right  of  Way.    All  subsequent  documents  will be  based  upon  the  contents  of  the  Grant.    Keep  copies  of  all  paperwork. Even before you see this paperwork you may be asked to give permission for a survey.  Go  ahead and sign the permission form.

Here are a couple of other clauses of interest:

"Grantee  warrants  that  the  purchase  price  paid  per  square  unit  of  land  for  this  Grant  is  not  less  than  that price paid for similar land in ________ County,  ___.    If  Grantee  agrees  to  pay  another  landowner  a  higher  price  per  square  unit  of  land,  then,  Grantee  shall  make  an  additional   payment  to  Grantor  to  equal   the   difference   between   the   price   paid   to   Grantor per square unit of land and the higher price per square unit of land paid to the other landowner. "


In  order  to  avoid  problems  concerning  compensation  for  damages,  specific  clauses  may  be  added,  as  you  feel  necessary,  such as the following.

"Grantee agrees to pay the Grantor fair market value for  any  trees  destroyed  or  severely  damaged  as  a  result of Grantee’s construction, maintenance, repair
or removal activities. If  Grantee  destroys  any  trees  or  similar  vegetation  used  by  Grantor  for  decorative  purposes,  Grantee  shall pay Grantor the fair market value thereof

Thanks for the reminders of the technical and legal issues, especially thanks to remind me to take notes and pictures--too often they can be game changers, with just a little discipline and not much extra time.

I heard back from the guy, and he started throwing around the 100k number. Likely I will accept that, if he actually comes through with it. I know there is a small degree of my own collusion that enables the pipeline as a whole, but after reading all the comments and technical reports to the contrary over this whole project, watching the FERC  publish a Draft statement that doesn't acknowledge any of it,it appears there is really nothing to do that would change the FERC decision, but I could likely lose a lot in legal fees etc. if I didn't accept this offer beforehand.

not to mention extensive delays.

I have also thought that some of the money could go to the opposition since the approval process is not over, and that might be more effective than me simply refusing.

At any rate, I want to talk with the community, and come clean about my intentions and get reactions, there is also a lawyer working for environmental defense who I need to talk with to discuss all this.

I feel somewhat unstable, both emotionally and mentally, as if an impulse could make me decide prematurely. So I plan to take my time and do a lot of listening

Also of course, the money would simply be funneled back into Permaculture projects, perhaps a new piece of ground somewhere, with enough money to simply develop it in a Permaculture way without even worrying about personal labor, time and money.

My personal needs are minor, another 5-10 k to finish this project, complete with swales, plantings, and house.

taxes of course--what would income taxes on 100k be, and is there any way to reinvest or work around them to mitigate them.
All thoughts are welcome, at this point there are only observations, I could pretty easily go either way, although  it would be a bit harder to take the money without the eminent domain already granted since I really do object to the project and would like to see it die on the books.

I dislike the very notion of the big petro companies shoving the little guys around.

But, having gone through it, I now realize it's just a pipe in the ground which I got a nice pile of money for.

It is extremely unlikely to ever cause you trouble, you just can't plant trees over it.

If you use gas or oil or natural gas, well....it has to travel from point A to point B somehow.

This is a construction manual for transmission lines.  I thought the part about erosion and vegetative restoration might be of interest to someone as I would feel it would be similar to a pipeline:

http://www.dairynet.com/power_delivery/BMP1_Volume1.pdf

Just a funny aside, after talking about 100k and how difficult it would be to turn it down, and would it be ethical, etc etc, I got an offer in the mail for 9k--Guy made it easy for me to do the "right thing"

I have been talking with various people about the "right" thing to do if they did offer a reasonable amount, and have received surprising support. Even though nobody really wants the pipeline, being out of the direct line of fire and knowing the distorted way the courts and such are leaning, they mostly understand that this isn't a case of betrayal, it is more a case of trying to keep your property value.

In the easement offer they mention using only mechanical means to remove vegetation, but I'm not sure about maintenance afterward. I know I have seen caveats where they might go in with herbicides to control invasives later on in other documents, but I'm not sure if that means those herbicides seemingly banned during construction, would be allowed later on here.

One thing, they talk about leaving chips behind, so I can likely keep a lot of that carbon for use in projects if I just ask them to leave the stuff in piles. For me personally, having them cut down the pines and leave the chips behind could be a real win win all the way through--assuming they actually bury a pipe that never leaks or explodes with a driveway that can support heavier traffic, (a full cement or gravel truck).

If I get any amount of money at all, I see a whole series of smaller swales right up to the permanent easement with blueberry and numerous other berry bushes. Perhaps even a keyline pattern chisel plowing and pasture development over top of the pipe, although I've heard the pipe can somehow impact the health of animals grazing above it--milk cows and the like. (anybody have any experience with this?)

When there's a light snow, you can see exactly where the 2 pipelines run down in my pasture.  So, you get a little season extension in the spring and the fall.

Just a recent update regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota with reference to general pipeline easements:     http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/lawsuit-accuses-dakota-access-of-misleading-landowners/article_94ffc850-a0d9-5939-b10a-444e73ac863d.html

Lawsuit accuses Dakota Access of misleading landowners
Amy Dalrymple Forum News Service  18 hrs ago

Morton County landowners who claim Dakota Access LLC deceived them into accepting an unfair price for pipeline easements are seeking more than $4 million in damages in a federal lawsuit.

A group of landowners claims in a U.S. District Court case that Dakota Access agents harassed, threatened and intimidated them and used fraud and misleading statements to secure a lower price in exchange for allowing the pipeline to cross their land.  Most of the landowners in the group accepted $216 per rod for pipeline easements, but later found out some of their neighbors received as high as $2,000 per rod, the lawsuit states. A rod is 16½ feet.

“The landowners were told that they were being offered the best deal that was ever going to come along and no one else would receive a better deal,” said Fargo attorney Peter Zuger. “Many were told their land could be taken by eminent domain if they didn’t agree.”

The 1,172-mile Dakota Access Pipeline will transport oil from the Bakken oilfields to a transportation hub in Patoka, Ill. The landowners in the suit collectively own 11 separate pieces of land that make up about 9 miles of the pipeline route in Morton County, Zuger said.  Land agents contracted by Dakota Access approached the landowners in 2014, telling them they had 30 days to consider the proposal or risk losing a 20 percent signing bonus, the lawsuit states.

The agents also told some landowners in late 2014 that because the price of oil was going down, they should sign the agreements right away and they’d still get the money even though the pipeline might not be constructed, the complaint says. Landowners also were told they would receive less money or “basically nothing” if their land was taken by eminent domain.

Vicki Anderson Granado, a spokeswoman for Energy Transfer Partners, the main developer behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation. Dakota Access was still in the process of being served with the complaint, which means the legal answer will be due in about three weeks.

The lawsuit is not the first time North Dakota landowners have complained about how land agents representing Dakota Access have treated them. Concerns also were raised to the North Dakota Public Service Commission when the pipeline was under review, with some landowners complaining about bullying tactics and threats of taking their land through eminent domain.

Yes John,

Lies are SOP for these bastards. Some of the actual workers will tell what they know, but the wheeler dealers will say anything.

I asked one of them about the recent spill/sedimentation, fines another one of their pipelines had recently been convicted of, and what they would do differently, and the guy said with a straight face it was because of slippery mud and they had never dealt with that before. But now that they know about slippery mud everything would be OK.

We have heard varieties of answers to questions depending on who we talk to.  The thing about how the pipeline won't be approved anyway so this is free money is a famous one.

We are now commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and with tons of specific details not yet even part of the plan,  tons of other details that were released after the DEIS was issued, previous comments by experts in everything from caves and Karst to economics, the DEIS still concluded no significant impact.

These guys have ceased to even try to appear rational, they simply paint a rosy picture and then hope they make as much money as possible. They expect these things to fail, but simply try and and play the actuary odds that it won't fail too soon or too catastrophically.

I thought I would offer an update on this. Even though I felt like I was selling my soul to the devil, I did finally sell the easement rights (with numerous stipulations to my advantage). cover seeding will be legumes, not grasses original 75 foot width reduced to 50'), numerous restrictions on how temporary easement could be used, and they need to stay off my driveway (except where they cut through it) Wood is to remain on the property as either logs or chips, driveway is to remain accessible to foot and vehicular traffic, rated for heavier equipment, no chemicals to be used in clearing or maintenance, and they can't take it back if the pipeline ends up being defeated in court (not likely)

I did finally get a lawyer when negotiations kept breaking down, seems like there are some tricks to getting what you want. Primary is to state all your amendments up front, know the legal terms of the final authorizing body for eminent domain--(FERC only allowed 50 foot requirement, so ACP had to abandon the 75' demand), and put everything up front so they don't have to go back and forth picking up each new objection/request. )

Know their needs, if you are in the thick of the action they need your property more than if you are just  a routine bit of pipeline, in my case they were in a hurry to start stockpiling pipe and get a foothold on the road.

Even if you know all these things, they may only respond to a lawyer, and my lawyer knew how to present the amendments so all they had to do was sign off on them. he also added a few safeguards I wouldn't have thought were necessary.

In the end I got 85k, and the lawyer had recommended I take it. I had asked for 80k before I got the lawyer, then after getting the lawyer we jumped it to 100k. Since the lawyer didn't have to do a lot of litigation, he is only taking 12,500, did I say to shop around for a lawyer? The other lawyer I had been involved with would have taken 25k.

Anyway, my final is 72500, which is about what I wanted in the first place. I still feel like I have sold my soul to the devil, but in the spirit of positive thinking, I'll just keep developing my water main frame and plantings on the other side of the creek, and when the dust settles from their construction they will have paid for my teaching center.

Way to turn their greed into a positive. I think one huge tool in the toolbox for tools to spread permaculture is homesteads and small-to-medium-sized farms with learning centers, or tours, or educational walk-through pick-your-own dealios. People stop for the wierdest things on this continent. I like that some of it will be permaculture.

Was any detail provided on what the procedure is for a leak? What does a fracked gas leak entail? I assume it's less damaging than crude, but I would be interested to know what evaporates, and what is left on your land, should the worst occur.

Not to be a doomsayer, but I was wondering if you'd looked into some of the work on mycoremediation of contaminated soils. It occurs to me that if the fungi used in those projects are either non-specific, or will stand in the stead of those already in your soil, you could encourage soil life as a prophylactic measure for the worst-case scenario, and in case of lower-level contamination of any sort.

Glad to hear some good has come of this. Keep us posted, and I hope it goes off without a hitch.

-CK

Way to go Bob. I imagine that it is a sort of bitter sweet deal. I like the clauses you had put in the document that they can't use chemicals in clearing or maintenance and have to leave the logs and wood chips. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it does get defeated in court and they still cut you a check for $85k. :-)

I wondered about a leak (as opposed to an explosion,) and I think it is somewhat problematic in the sense that this gas would have no skunk smell added yet, so is primarily odorless.  but it will kill plants , and I think that is one of the signs they look for as they monitor the line from the air. Fracked gas has trace amounts of everything in the ground--polonium(radioactive) and other nonsense. I had figured that if a serious leak occurred it might require some mycelial cleanup

My active approach will be to try and sequester the pipeline run off after they are done with swales between the pipeline and the creek. the swales will likely have wood chips and logs growing various mycelia If there is a specialized need I may need to research Paul Stamets site for specific  strains that would capture the toxins.  But that is pretty far in the future so I have some time before crossing that bridge

Well, there is no such thing as a done deal, and also no such thing as a defeated pipeline, but it is stalled and we have definitely had some victories.  Army corps of Engineers blanket certificates have limits and the water control board has jurisdiction to stop the project if they don't like the solutions ACP is proposing. For now they have put it on hold as they examine each of the thousand plus water crossings in VA.

Even so, ACP started cutting trees like mad trying to get ahead of the april deadline to stop tree felling.   But they could only cut down the trees, no chipping or ground disturbance because of the water control board ruling,, then  Judges  stopped all activity (theoretically) because of insufficient surveys on endangered species, and the pipeline is really working overtime to submit the things that should have been submitted and examined by the FERC. It's not called a ruberstamp comission for nothing--especially the two new commissioners appointed by Trump who overruled the only commissioner who was there from the beginning of the permit application.  She said there was insufficient data to guarantee no harms or "acceptable" harms, also no clear demonstration of actual public good, and wanted a better , more complete application.

I even think the UN may be involved in some social justice issues around where they have located the compressor station nearest to me-- in a minority neighborhood that will receive no benefits, but most of the emissions from a 60,000 horsepower, 24/7 natural gas compressor.


Outside of all that controversy, I bought a backhoe (an old case super E) and a wood chipper, and little by little things are moving forward, so whatever the pipeline does, I figure it will be gone in 100years (or much less)  but my swales and dams will be around much longer :-)

Interesting yarn

I worked for some people who had a well pad and a pipeline. They could not pound in T-posts for fencing because the pipeline was not buried as deep as it was supposed to be and they were afraid of puncturing it!!

I doubt t posts would directly puncture a pipeline, but they might scratch the coating and years later have a rust hole there.

I don't think I'm supposed to do any construction or bury anything in the easement area, and even fencing in boundaries I would try and stay clear of the specific intersections where the pipeline crossed the fenceline.

Theoretically I could do surface cultivation and light farm equipment is not supposed to be a problem

I thought an update might be appropriate for anyone who has watched this struggle with the ACP

The pipeline is clearly an environmental disaster waiting to happen--or will be if it ever gets built.

They had all their permits as one agency after another caved in to this economic and political giant. then federal circuit courts started turning against the "goliath"

Several permits were thrown out and theoretically all construction should stop.

The latest decision threw out the Permit to tunnel under the Blue Ridge Parkway. others have invalidated permits that might destroy endangered species.  There are countless lawsuits challenging their data and methods, and they still don't have the DEQ water permits here in VA. The strategy is to invest so much money and do so much work they make it more and more difficult for anyone to stop them.

Did I mention the air quality Permit that is actually an environmental justice case that is being hotly contested as we speak. It has not yet been issued, and  we are not giving in quietly.  The virginia compressor station (54,000 horse power)  is built in the middle of a  community of freed slaves descendants. (the station is built partially on the original plantation.) The NAACP is  getting into the fight and I think the case was put before some UN committee.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline, a sister pipeline to the ACP, and a little farther south, has been ordered to stop construction along it's entire length since it's erosion controls aren't working  and even though they have just started, they are already guilty of several violations.

Well, there are no celebrations yet, but the fact that we have slowed their progress so much is a bit gratifying.

Well, we're still holding our breath and knocking on wood here in VA.

I have been amazed at the professional expertise being brought to bear, and a seemingly routine survey has air permit people putting off  an up or down vote trying to make sense of simple statistics of how many people of racial minorities live within a mile of the compressor station that would be part of the ACP.  Social Justice is a big deal these days of "Black Lives Matter" and dumping pollution on slave descendants has turned into a very big deal. With prominent national attention focused  on the superficial guesstimate submitted by Dominion  vs the door to door survey done by a local woman with a team of volunteers.

The Court decision mentioned in the last post to vacate the permits to cross national forests and the blue ridge parkway is still holding the construction back, but in DC  they are trying to attach a law to the appropriations bill allowing them to issue those permits--Dominion has a very long reach.

It has been removed for now, and if the government were to shut down, almost certainly that law would not be reintroduced before the Democrats took over the house, and we might have a better chance with them being environmentally responsible, but as a realist, money works equally well on both sides of the aisle.

Every once in a while I start to remember that original enthusiasm that we might defeat them, and even allow myself to indulge in the possible reality that maybe  money and power don't always get what they want.

Oh, did I mention the SCC rejected Dominion's estimate of needed gas supplies in future projections, and the need for the ACP disappeared with the greatly reduced reality of just how much gas is needed in VA.  That was the basis of Dominion's claim to eminent domain, and when public need disappears, so does eminent domain.

The long and short of it is that Dominion has been lying right along about almost everything that made the ACP possible. Those lies are being exposed publicly left and right, and whether this has a happy ending or not is still a question.  

But maybe the most convincing of all is what is unfolding a few miles south with the Mountain Valley Pipeline. They have violated  their erosion control permits so often they have been stopped and there is a question now of whether that pipeline will ever get built--known as a sister to ACP it may be that the actuality of damage to water becomes so obvious that the ACP will also be restrained from their folly-- this has been the wettest month so far since 1860 or so, and water is running everywhere. Maybe the weather gods are on our side too!!!



 

Thanks for the update!

For anyone watching this thread, the latest news is somewhat disappointing, the governor made an end run around the air board, dismissing two of the members who had made the most noise about social justice and prevented the straight away approval of the air permit. The two replacement appointees were not allowed to vote, and the remaining   board members  clearly got  the message that the permit would go through with or without them. So it is no surprise that the air permit was finally granted this month.


There is talk now about conflicts of interest over one AB member's financial stake in the completion of the pipeline, although I'm not yet aware of any actual legal action being taken to void the permit or suspend it pending review.

Also, the social justice issue is still one being talked about, but how that may turn into action is not yet clear.

Other legal challenges mentioned earlier are still in place, and Dominion announced earlier a work stoppage, but the air permit was definitely a hurdle they needed to clear. The forest service permits are the next ones to contend with, and there may still be erosion control plans that are not yet approved.


















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Sorry to learn of this problem. Reminded me of a toll road that was built in central Texas several years ago. Too much greed & bad politics were involved. The most famous name is not hard to determine. The local news interviewed a reluctant land owner. She explained that she & her husband had spent 40 or 50 years on their hands & knees removing rocks from their fields so they could grow food. She was not a happy camper. Many land owners refused to sell & eminent domain was enacted. Now there is a big fat road that relatively few people use.

Building a tunnel through the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains to transport oil from the fracking fields. What part of that seems like a good idea?