What does FERC care about in Environmental Impact Scoping?

 
Socioeconomics:

• Cultural attachment and family history is particularly strong in Craig and has been documented.
• The cost to benefit ratio in Craig County is high cost to stakeholders in reduction of property values and environmental hazards and no benefit. We bear the cost of private corporation profits.
• Craig County depends on tourism and agriculture for its economy.
• The Appalachian Trail’s quality is particularly good in Craig County in terms of plant life, wildlife, and viewsheds.
• Organic farms and natural beef operations will be impacted by water quality issues and right of way management issues.
• Beekeepers may be affected by disturbances.
• What is the insurance company that MVP is using, what is covered, what is their history?

 
Public safety:

• Trucks and large equipment on hazardous and steep narrow roads will endanger the public.
• Emergency services are unable to cover accidents due to construction.
• Emergency services are unable to respond to wildfire due to terrain, vast acreage and wilderness area access.
• Wildfire started by a 42 inch gas line would be uncontrollable.
• Proximity to Wilderness areas in which no control of wildfire is possible or allowed.
• Natural wildfires are common and would pose an increased danger of explosion from leaking gas.
• Flash floods are common and would be increased by construction.
• Dams on Johns Creek are not up to a safety standards and could be further impacted by construction of the pipeline in close proximity.
• Frequency of monitoring is crucial to pipeline integrity due to earthquakes and karst topography.

 
Impact of Construction:

• A 42 inch pipeline has never been constructed on our steep terrain before.
• Trucks and heavy equipment using roads and bridges not designed for this use.
• Compacted soils and flooding from steep slopes.
• Does easement revert back to landowner should the pipeline cease to be used? Will the pipe be removed?

 
Geology and soils:

• There are extensive areas of Karst terrain with caves, sinkholes and springs that are interconnected throughout the county and along alternate routes.
• Soils are unstable with regular rockslides and earthquakes.
• Ridgelines are solid rock outcroppings.

 
Water resources:

• Every landowner on the route and those adjoining the route depends on the JNF for clean water.
• The fragile aquifer is depended on by every citizen for their springs and wells.
• Blasting will affect these water sources and contamination by chemicals in construction and controlling plant growth on the right of way will be a risk to our health and agriculture.
• Sedimentation of water will destroy the health of our streams and aquatic life.

 
Vegetation and wildlife:

• 112, 000 acres of national forest in Craig County.
• We have Protected Black bear habitat (6C).
• We have Old Growth Forest (8C).
• Indiana bat, Long-eared bat are endangered.
• Federally protected species like the James Spiny mussel and other aquatic creatures are endangered.
• Raptor flyways will be impacted such as hanging rock observatory.

 
Air quality and noise

• MVP has admitted there will be some low level noise but cannot give any more information.
• How will those vibrations disturb plant and animal life?
• Compressor stations will create noise pollution for miles and if located in Craig, it will be heard from the Appalachian Trail.