Javascript is required to use this website.

At DEQ public hearings, opponents decry pipeline and supporters say it’s vital to economic growth

Laurence Hammack
Sep 28, 2021
Sep 28, 2021 Updated Apr 4, 2023
0

081521-roa-a1-newport-03.JPG (copy) — Construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline comes through Doe Creek Farm in Giles County in a photo taken Aug. 15.
The Roanoke Times, File August

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

RADFORD — As they have many times before, opponents of building a natural gas pipeline through Southwest Virginia decried its heavy environmental footprint.

kAmp?5 @?46 282:?[ DFAA@CE6CD D2:5 E96 |@F?E2:? '2==6J !:A6=:?6 :D G:E2= E@ 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9]k^Am

kAm%96:C 4@>>6?ED H6C6 >256 |@?52J 2?5 %F6D52J ?:89E 5FC:?8 AF3=:4 962C:?8D 96=5 3J E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ 2?5 E96 $E2E6 (2E6C r@?EC@= q@2C5[ H9:49 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 2 DEC62>\4C@DD:?8 A6C>:E 7@C E96 566A=J 5:G:D:G6 AC@;64E]k^Am

kAmp=E9@F89 >F49 @7 E96 b_b\>:=6 A:A6=:?6 :D ?62C:?8 4@>A=6E:@?[ |@F?E2:? '2==6J 92D 6?4@F?E6C65 C6A62E65 C68F=2E@CJ 2?5 =682= 492==6?86D @G6C 9@H E96 3FC:65 A:A6 H:== 4C@DD ?62C=J `[___ DEC62>D 2?5 H6E=2?5D :? :ED A2E9]k^Am

People are also reading…

Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward
12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle
Franklin County sheriff's deputies often make immigration arrests for ICE
Board approves carp comeback at Smith Mountain Lake to eat invasive hydrilla
Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect
Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother
Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase
Smith Mountain Lake State Park lecture series wraps up on Sunday
Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase
Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates
Franklin County chicken and bee zoning overhaul draws resident backlash
Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025
Man unlawfully in US arrested in Franklin County for child sex abuse
2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia
Martinsville council moves toward releasing forensic audit after months of secrecy

kAmq67@C6 E96 AC@;64E 42? 36 7:?:D965[ E96 H2E6C 3@2C5 >FDE :DDF6 2 H2E6C BF2=:EJ 46CE:7:42E:@?[ H9:49 H@F=5 E96? 36 7@==@H65 3J 2 7:?2= 2AAC@G2= 7C@> E96 &]$] pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66CD]k^Am

kAm%96 3@2C5 :D 6IA64E65 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? :? s646>36C]k^Am

kAm~7 E96 db A6@A=6 H9@ DA@<6 |@?52J ?:89E :? #@4<J |@F?E[ bd H6C6 :? 72G@C @7 7:?:D9:?8 E96 =@?8\56=2J65 AC@;64E] %96 7:CDE a_ DA62<6CD 2E %F6D52J’D 962C:?8 2E #257@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ[ H9:49 4@?E:?F65 A2DE AC6DD E:>6[ H6C6 6G6?=J DA=:E @? E96 :DDF6]k^Am

kAms6=] r92C=6D !@:?56IE6C[ #\#@4<J |@F?E[ D2:5 2 4FCC6?E =24< @7 ?2EFC2= 82D 92D =@?8 366? 2 DEF>3=:?8 3=@4< :? 2EEC24E:?8 ?6H :?5FDEC:6D E@ uC2?<=:? r@F?EJ] “x 42?’E @G6CDE2E6 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 A:A6=:?6’D 4@>A=6E:@? 7@C E96 4@F?EJ’D 64@?@>:4 DF446DD[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmqJ E2AA:?8 E96 A:A6=:?6 2D :E CF?D E9@F89 E96 $F>>:E ':6H qFD:?6DD !2C<[ #@2?@<6 v2D r@] H@F=5 36 23=6 E@ >66E 56>2?5 :? uC2?<=:? r@F?EJ[ :E D2JD]k^Am

kAm!2F= $49?6:56C[ 5:C64E@C @7 6?6C8J A=2??:?8 2?5 AC@4FC6>6?E 7@C #@2?@<6 v2D[ D2:5 E96 4@>A2?J 92D 25565 23@FE a[d__ 4FDE@>6CD D:?46 a_`d 2?5 6IA64ED e__ >@C6 @G6C E96 ?6IE J62C]k^Am

kAm%H@ 6I:DE:?8 A:A6=:?6D E92E 4FCC6?E=J DFAA=J ?2EFC2= 82D 92G6 ?@ >@C6 42A24:EJ[ E96 4@>A2?J D2JD] “#@2?@<6 v2D ?66565 |'! :? a_`d 2?5 H6 ?665 :E 6G6? >@C6 E@52J[” $49?6:56C D2:5]k^Am

kAm~AA@?6?ED A@:?E E@ E96 A:A6=:?6’D EC@F3=65 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C64@C5 D:?46 H@C< 3682? :? a_`g] $E2E6 C68F=2E@CD 92G6 4:E65 |@F?E2:? '2==6J H:E9 >@C6 E92? b__ G:@=2E:@?D @7 6C@D:@? 2?5 D65:>6?E 4@?EC@= C68F=2E:@?D] (96? :E C2:?D 962G:=J[ >F55J H2E6C @7E6? 7=@HD @77 4@?DECF4E:@? D:E6D 2?5 :?E@ DEC62>D]k^Am

kAm“r@>>6C46 :D ?@E J@FC ;@3[” y@D9F2 '2?2 @7 p#%:G:D>[ 2 8C@FA E92E 4@@C5:?2E6D C6D:DE2?46 36EH66? 2CE:DED 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= ;FDE:46 24E:G:DED[ E@=5 E96 H2E6C 3@2C5] “*@FC ;@3 :D E@ C6AC6D6?E 4:E:K6?D 2?5 AC@E64E H2E6C BF2=:EJ]”k^Am

kAm|2?J D2J :E :D ?@E E@@ =2E6 E@ DE@A E96 A:A6=:?6]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D ?@E 2 5@?6 562=[” s6=] r9C:D wFCDE[ s\q=24<D3FC8[ D2:5 %F6D52J :? FC8:?8 E96 3@2C5 ?@E E@ 2==@H E96 3FC62F4C2E:4 >@>6?EF> |@F?E2:? '2==6J 92D 82:?65 H:E9 @E96C A6C>:ED E@ :?7=F6?46 :ED 564:D:@?]k^Am

kAm"F@E:?8 5@4F>6?ED 7:=65 H:E9 E96 u656C2= t?6C8J #68F=2E@CJ r@>>:DD:@?[ y6DD:42 $:>D @7 pAA2=249:2? '@:46D D2:5 E92E 7:?2= C6DE@C2E:@? 92D E2<6? A=246 @? ;FDE daT @7 E96 A:A6=:?6[ H9:49 H:== CF? 7C@> ?@CE96C? (6DE ':C8:?:2 E9C@F89 E96 }6H #:G6C 2?5 #@2?@<6 G2==6JD E@ 4@??64E H:E9 2? 6I:DE:?8 A:A6=:?6 ?62C E96 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 =:?6]k^Am

kAm|@F?E2:? '2==6J @77:4:2=D D2J E96 AC@;64E :D >@C6 E92? h_T 5@?6]k^Am

kAmu:?2= C6DE@C2E:@? — H9:49 :?4=F56D C6EFC?:?8 E96 =2?5 E@ :ED @C:8:?2= 7@C> 2?5 A=2?E:?8 G686E2E:@? 23@G6 E96 3FC:65 A:A6 — D9@F=5 ?@E 36 4@?7=2E65 H:E9 @E96C[ >@C6 E:>6\4@?DF>:?8 24E:G:E:6D[ DF49 2D 3F:=5:?8 E9C66 4@>AC6DD@C DE2E:@?D 2?5 :?E6C4@??64ED H:E9 @E96C A:A6=:?6D[ |@F?E2:? '2==6J D2JD] %92E H@C< 92D 366? 4@>A=6E65[ E96J D2J[ 2?5 afa >:=6D @7 A:A6 :D :? E96 8C@F?5]k^Am

kAm!FEE:?8 2 ca\:?49 5:2>6E6C A:A6 E9C@F89 H2E6C 3@5:6D :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 6?G:C@?>6?E2==J 52?86C@FD A2CED @7 E96 ;@3[ @AA@?6?ED D2J]k^Am

kAmqFE y@J46 (2F89[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 E96 #@2?@<6 #68:@?2= r92>36C[ D2:5 2E |@?52J’D AF3=:4 962C:?8 E92E 2 D:>:=2C 4C@DD:?8 @7 E96 #@2?@<6 #:G6C 7@C 2 D6H6C =:?6 H2D 5@?6 H:E9 ?@ =@?8\E6C> AC@3=6>D C6A@CE65]k^Am

kAm&D:?8 H92E’D 42==65 2? @A6?\4FE EC6?49 >6E9@5[ E96 (6DE6C? ':C8:?:2 (2E6C pFE9@C:EJ :? a__h C6A=2465 2 ca\:?49 >2:? E92E H2D A2CE @7 2 =@H\H2E6C 52> 36EH66? E96 ':4 %9@>2D 2?5 (2D6?2 A2C<D :? #@2?@<6]k^Am

kAmp 4@776C52> H2D E6>A@C2C:=J :?DE2==65 E@ 5:G6CE 92=7 @7 E96 C:G6C 492??6=’D 7=@H[ 2E H9:49 A@:?E 2 ac\:?49 2?5 be\:?49 A:A6 H6C6 3FC:65 2=@?8 E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 5C2:?65 2C62] %96 AC@46DD H2D E96? C6A62E65 @? E96 @E96C 92=7 @7 E96 C:G6C]k^Am

kAm(2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ DA@<6DH@>2? $2C29 q2F>82C5?6C D2:5 E96C6 H6C6 ?@ 4:E:K6? 4@>A=2:?ED @7 D65:>6?E :? E96 C:G6C[ 2?5 E96 &]$] u:D9 2?5 (:=5=:76 $6CG:46 56E6C>:?65 E92E 2?J D9@CE\E6C> :>A24ED H@F=5 36 @FEH6:8965 3J E96 =@?8\E6C> 36?67:E E@ E96 923:E2E @7 E96 #@2?@<6 =@8A6C49]k^Am

kAmx? =2E6 a_`f[ 2 D:>:=2C AC@46DD 7@C |@F?E2:? '2==6J’D 4C@DD:?8D C646:G65 2 }2E:@?H:56 !6C>:E `a[ 2? 2AAC@G2= 7C@> E96 pC>J r@CAD E92E 4C:E:4D 56C:565 2D E2<:?8 2 3=2?<6E[ @?6\D:K6\7:ED\2== 2AAC@249] pE E96 E:>6[ E96J D2:5 |@F?E2:? '2==6J D9@F=5 92G6 2AA=:65 7@C 2? :?5:G:5F2= A6C>:E[ H9:49 :?G@=G6D 2 >@C6 56E2:=65 6G2=F2E:@? @7 6249 H2E6C 3@5J]k^Am

kAmp7E6C E96 }2E:@?H:56 !6C>:E H2D DECF4< 5@H? 3J 2 7656C2= 2AA6==2E6 4@FCE[ |@F?E2:? '2==6J D@F89E :?5:G:5F2= A6C>:ED :? u63CF2CJ 7@C >2?J @7 E96 @A6?\4FE EC6?49 4C@DD:?8D E92E 92G6 J6E E@ 36 5@?6]k^Am

kAmqJ E96?[ E96 A:A6=:?6 925 7@C565 >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 E96 ?62C=J `[___ H2E6C 3@5:6D]k^Am

kAm%96 4@>A2?J 92D :56?E:7:65 abe C6>2:?:?8 4C@DD:?8D :? ':C8:?:2] ~7 E9@D6[ ha — :?4=F5:?8 E96 #@2?@<6 #:G6C 2=@?8 E96 |@?E8@>6CJ\#@2?@<6 4@F?EJ =:?6 — H@F=5 6?E2:= 3@C:?8 F?56C E96 H2E6C 3@5:6D 2D @AA@D65 E@ 5:88:?8 2 EC6?49] st" :D ?@E 4@?D:56C:?8 E9@D6 4C@DD:?8D[ H9:49 H:== C6BF:C6 2AAC@G2= 7C@> ut#r]k^Am

kAmpD >@C6 6>A92D:D 92D 366? A=2465 @? C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J :? C646?E J62CD[ @AA@?6?ED 762C E96 9F86 ?2EFC2= 82D :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H:== =@4< :? C6=:2?46 @? 7@DD:= 7F6=D 2E 2 E:>6 H96? 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D 364@>:?8 2 4C:D:D]k^Am

kAm!:A6=:?6 @AA@?6?ED 6IAC6DD65 =:EE=6 4@?7:56?46 :? 6:E96C |@F?E2:? '2==6J’D A6C7@C>2?46 @C st"’D @G6CD:89E]k^Am

kAm#676CC:?8 E@ E96 4@>A2?J 2D “|@F?E2:? '2==6J A@==FE6CD[” |:<6 r2CE6C[ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 uC2?<=:? r@F?EJ q@2C5 @7 $FA6CG:D@CD[ 2D<65 E96 H2E6C 3@2C5 |@?52Ji “pC6 J@F 8@:?8 E@ 2==@H E96> E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 56DEC@J @FC H2E6CD 2?5 DEC62>Dn”k^Am

kAm(9:=6 st" 7@F?5 9F?5C65D @7 :?7C24E:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE EH@ J62CD @7 4@?DECF4E:@?[ E96C6 92G6 366? 76H 7@C>2= 6?7@C46>6?E 24E:@?D D:?46 E96?] |66E:?8 %F6D52J 367@C6 E96 AF3=:4 962C:?8[ E96 H2E6C 3@2C5 H2D E@=5 E96C6 H6C6 ?@ 7:?5:?8D @7 ?@?\4@>A=:2?46 7C@> yF?6 a_ E@ $6AE] a_]k^Am

kAm“*6D[ H6 5:5 92G6 492==6?86D” 5FC:?8 E96 J62CD H96? E96C6 H2D C64@C5 C2:?72== :? E96 C68:@?[ #@36CE r@@A6C[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 6?8:?66C:?8 7@C |@F?E2:? '2==6J 2?5 9625 @7 E96 AC@;64E[ D2:5 2E %F6D52J’D AF3=:4 962C:?8]k^Am

kAmx>AC@G6>6?ED 92G6 D:?46 366? >256[ r@@A6C D2:5 :? 6IAC6DD:?8 E96 4@>A2?J’D “F?C6D6CG65 DFAA@CE” 7@C 2 5C27E A6C>:E E92E H@F=5 36 @?6 @7 E96 =2DE 2AAC@G2=D |@F?E2:? '2==6J >FDE @3E2:? 7@C E96 Se]a 3:==:@? AC@;64E]k^Am

kAmwFCDE[ H9@D6 =68:D=2E:G6 5:DEC:4E 92D bd >:=6D @7 A:A6=:?6 CF??:?8 E9C@F89 :E[ 5:DAFE65 4@>>6?ED 7C@> r@@A6C 2?5 @E96C A:A6=:?6 H@C<6CD 2?5 DFAA@CE6CD]k^Am

kAm“x 92G6 D66? 7:CDE92?5 E96 :>A24E @7 4@?DECF4E:@? 72:=FC6D[” 96 D2:5] “(6 <?@H E92E E96 G:@=2E:@?D 2C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ @44FC 2?5 2C6 ?@E 36:?8 255C6DD65 :? 2 >62?:?87F= H2J]”k^Am

0 comments