I admire this couple's guts!!

Couple stands strongly opposed to pipeline 

Editor’s note: The following was sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a motion to intervene out of time, and shared with The Recorder. To the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission:

My husband and I strongly oppose construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The newly proposed southern route crosses our beautiful property. We will not give permission for Dominion to survey our land. We will yield only to a court order and are working with a lawyer to protect our rights as private landowners. 

We are not convinced that construction of this pipeline is necessary, nor do we believe it is in the national interest. We demand a full scoping review and process.

This morning, Dominion asked FERC for a waiver. Dominion wants to continue their project (adhering to their timeline) without completing an Environmental Impact Survey. They state they can complete their survey of the new route by April 15, 2016, yet Dominion Representative “Greg” explained on March 9 at Dominion’s Open House: “We don’t have a traffic management plan” because the alternative route is so new. Greg estimated it will take 2-3 months to create this plan and noted that access roads have not been finalized.

It seems unreasonable for FERC to approve Dominion’s current plan with so many important elements missing.

Carla Y. Picard, External Affairs Manager, Dominion Energy, stated that wells near the proposed route may be tested over four seasons to establish baseline data if property owners are concerned about potential pollution of springs, streams, groundwater, wells, and rivers. 

What procedure do we follow to ensure that comments such as these translate into binding contracts for citizens concerned about maintaining water quality in our area? 

Dye traces document underground waterways up to eight miles in length in our area. It is unreasonable for Dominion to claim responsibility for maintaining water quality a mere 500 feet from the proposed pipeline pathway.

My husband worked 2-3 jobs — starting back in 1960s — to purchase our land, piece by piece, as he could afford it. When it became available, he purchased another parcel. 

When Ben purchased our property in Burnsville, we acquired peacefulness, quietness, the amazing beauty of God’s creations of the earth, land, and wildlife. Beauty of the land brought serenity and tranquility to us. We thank our Holy and Mighty Lord God for the blessing He has bestowed upon us. We realize how blessed we are.

Dominion does not, in good conscience, have the legal right to take our land away because it will benefit Dominion. Dominion did not purchase this land!

We do not intend to allow anyone to destroy our property by surveying and constructing the ACP (pipeline) here in Burnsville.

Our property values and inability to sell will create a great loss of income for us. We have invested in the purchase of our land over several years as an investment to enable us to have an income source for our later years. 

This proposal to take land from many families will create a significant loss of income for them also. No one will want to purchase land with a gas pipeline on it and live under the fears, dangers and destruction it will create. How can you not see the tremendous emotional stress and loss of income that will be created by this ACP pipeline construction?

The Dominion’s proposed ACP is stealing private property by trying to force owners and by bullying owners with the “eminent domain” law.

The government and big business have a deceitful way of creating and passing bills to get what they want, and use the best legal advisors to twist and turn the meaning to the ordinary citizen.

 If the “eminent domain law” had been presented in a simple, briefly worded bill, more people could have made an educated choice. 

The taking of one’s land for private benefit should be illegal, no matter how you word it. How would you feel, if your land was to be taken by the government? What happened to America? We will not let them take our property willingly or survey it.

We are very upset and disagree with the “eminent domain law” totally! Has our Virginia state government created this law to take privately purchased property, at their will, to benefit big business, at the owner’s loss?

 I believe in the Webster’s dictionary the word “steal” is defined as unlawful taking of property without consent of the owner. 

I don’t see what is so difficult to understand about this law. It is unlawful! Our state government of Virginia may have passed the law, but they illegally justified it by turning and twisting words to benefit the utility companies.

 In simple words, stealing is the same as robbery, thievery, and larceny.

Trespassing is a serious crime if any person commits the action. Why does Dominion think they are exempt from it? Have you stopped to think why citizens don’t trust the government, whether state or federal? How would you like someone forcefully and illegally taking your property you worked hard to be able to buy? 

I don’t know how you can continue in good conscience, knowing you are hurting hundreds of people’s lives.

We live in a vast area of karst topography. Our concerns and fears are many. Just to list a few, the loss and pollution of our wells, springs, ponds and water supplies needed for us to exist. 

One of our ponds is stocked with fish to provide a source of food for us. Our well is the source of clean water and also our springs. We believe in prevention of disasters, not creation of them.

The loss of water will not only create loss of life — both human and wildlife, but also unhealthy, unsanitary conditions for us. 

Our county health department had to approve of our water supplies, well and springs for us to be able to live here. What will happen if they cannot approve of our water if Dominion begins their proposed construction of ACP?

 Can we exist without clean drinking or washing water? Whether we can afford a new well is not the question! With the ACP construction, our opportunity for pristine water may be gone.

We have many other fears, such as cave-ins, landslides, the dangers of blasting, damage to our homes by the tremendous force of a gas pipeline explosion, gas pipeline leaks, evacuation in case of an emergency, forest fires from explosions, our voluntary EMTs not being able to respond to a lifesaving call in a timely matter, our voluntary fire department not being equipped to handle a disaster by fire/ explosions, and safe evacuation routes in our mountainous land, to just name a few. 

How can we live peacefully and serenely under the threat of a gas pipeline? 

The stress level is unimaginable.

Our income as retirees does not allow us to be able to move and purchase another home. We put it all in the purchase of this home here in Burnsville, expecting to enjoy our lives, not live a stressful and fearful life.

If the ACP is built, independent studies show that the costs to citizens, municipalities, and counties will exceed the monies Dominion spends for said construction.

We appreciate your honest consideration of our concerns. We are hoping our “golden years” as we age will continue to be as joyful and blessed as they have been before the pipeline announcement. We thank our Mighty God for His blessings. 

Ben and Judy Allen

Burnsville, Va. 

Copied to: Dominion Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, Dominion Resources Inc., P.O. Box 26532, Richmond, Va. 23261; Senator Tim Kaine, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510; Senator Mark Warner, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510; Congressman Bob Goodlatte, U.S. Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515; Governor Terry McAuliffe, Common Ground for Virginia, P. O. Box 1475, Richmond, Va. 23218; Senator Creigh Deeds, district25@ senate.virginia.gov; Del. Ben Cline, DelBCline@ house.virginia.gov; Mike Bollinger, The Recorder, Warm Springs, Va.; Isak Howell, Appalachian Mountain Advocates,ihowell@appalmad.org.