The companies planning to build the Mountain Valley Pipeline today filed a formal request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If approved, it would wind through Virginia over private and public lands. One scenario has it crossing the Appalachian Trail in Giles County … and that has conservationists concerned.
Robbie Harris went for a hike with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Laura Belleville to get a look at where the pipeline might cross it.
Laura Belleville: “ I love this section right through here because you can tell you’re getting up higher and you’re starting to look out across the ridge line here. “
It’s a clear blue day in early fall and the first tinges of color frame a breathtaking view of the valley below Peters Mountain in Giles County. White blazes painted on trees mark the switchback trail and natural rock steps on a gentle grade, installed by trail volunteers, ease the climb just a bit. Some 6000 or more donate their labor to maintain 22-hundred miles of trail.
“And they do everything from building new trail, which is what they did here, to going out and maintaining, clipping and walking an area that they are responsible for on a regular basis. So there would be no trail without all of these volunteers.”
AT Conservancy people like to say, the Appalachian Trail took 15 years to build, but a lifetime to maintain. Earlier this year, the board adopted a policy offering guidance about how the conservancy should consider proposed pipelines from the construction phase to the view shed.
“One of the other things about our policy is, asking for co-location with existing right of ways so that a large, in tact forested area like this doesn’t have this major disturbance right down the middle of it.”
It’s not like there aren’t already electric power lines and even pipelines crossing the Appalachian Trail. From here you can see the scars on the mountain across the way where they built one last year. 63-gas lines cross it along the entire route, many installed decades ago. Belleville says, these current proposals are different.
“I think the fact that these lines are so much larger and so many large lines are getting proposed at the same time and sort of the overarching energy issues. I think it’s raised a lot of awareness and begged a lot of questions about what sorts of impacts these kinds of projects have.”
Beyond the impact of construction and maintenance of a pipeline through here, Belleville is concerned about the big picture.
“ You know, what’s the plan? What are we looking at here? I was reading at Department Of Energy report that looked at pipeline infrastructure needs and acknowledged that, given the existing infrastructure and where gas is coming from regionally, that we don’t necessarily need a lot of new pipelines. I mean - there will be some new interstate pipelines, but not necessarily 10 or 20 or 30. But it does say look at that infrastructure and what could be upgraded and how you could maximize the use of what’s out there already.”
We reach the top of Peters Mountain where we can see the next ridge, where the Mountain Valley Pipeline might cross.
“ Wow. – Pretty neat hut – Describe what you’re seeing. This is a rice field on top of Peters Mountain; this whole area is on the border of Virginia and West Virginia and it’s a big open area where you have sweeping vistas on both sides and we’re coming up to a shelter here where some hikers spend the night. In fact there’s some here right now.
Mike Wise and Elizabeth Faulkner are from Sitka Alaska.
“ We’re just hiking the trail. Section hiking .it she and I and we started in Troutville and she ends her hike tomorrow in Pearisburg. I continue on for a couple more weeks.
They’ll spend the night in a lean-to type shelter constructed by trail volunteers.
Spectacular --quite a view—Yeah, most of the shelters at least from my experience don't have nearly as grand a view as this. This is beautiful.
Again, Appalachian Trail Conservation Director, Laura Belleville.
“ There are not that many places on the east coast where you -- I mean this is just a slice and at every turn you get to see something like this and you think, ‘gosh, I live in such a beautiful place.’Or you know.. Everyone should come and see this and get away from that computer. Yeah I’m glad we’re able to come out here today.
The companies proposing the Mountain Valley Pipeline today filed a formal request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Spokesperson, Tamara Young-Allen says, in about ten days FERC will issue a Notice of Application and set a 30-day deadline for comments, motions to intervene and protests.
