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Floyd Fights Proposed Pipeline

http://www.floydvirginia.com/

Proposed natural gas pipelines that would carry fuel from West Virginia to North Carolina have raised protest all over the state. In Floyd, residents are seeing unmarked trucks with unidentified drivers showing up on their land asking to do a site survey, presumably for siting of the pipeline. The town is calling upon the power companies behind to explain their intentions.  

It has the feel of a stealth operation. Power companies Next Era Energy and EQT have still not contacted town leaders but surveyors  have visited landowners who own property along the proposed route.

“We have a lot of shocked and traumatized landowners in Floyd County.”

Mara Robbins is with a group called Citizens Preserving Floyd County.

She says the unmarked trucks show up unannounced at people’s land and ask directly if they can perform a site survey.  She says this puts the landowner in a tough position.

“It’s impossible to know what to do. If you say no, you risk being taken to court.  If you say yes, you’re allowing these surveyors to come onto your property and potentially compromise your position.”

The Board of Supervisors agreed to draft a resolution requesting the power companies to attend a public meeting.  That same request was made by Nelson County, where Dominion Resources is also proposing a natural gas pipeline.  That meeting was held earlier this week.

Robbins says the primary goal of her organization is to share whatever information they can find with the landowners who are affected. The group is holding a town meeting tonight.  A big turn out is expected.

The community meeting about the proposed “Mountain Valley Pipeline” begins at 7 pm at the Floyd Ecovillage. It is located at 718 Franklin Pike Rd, in Floyd, VA.

Robbie Harris is based in Blacksburg, covering the New River Valley and southwestern Virginia.