A sampling of Craig County Trails: HIKING TRAILS (hikers only) The Keffer Oak hike is just a short walk from the parking area on Northside Road. It is a famous tree along the Appalachian trail. Kelly Knob is found along the Appalachian trail and is accessed from Route 42 or…
Preserve Craig News 2025 saw a regrouping of Preserve Craig to move forward with new goals and leadership. Dr. Marjorie Lewter has taken up the reins to find new goals and energy for Preserve Craig. Our heartfelt thanks goes to Bill Wolf for his tireless fight for justice and our…
New events: Take action: Meet Jan. 11 at 2 pm at New Castle Volunteer Fire Department and 2nd Tuesday thereafter. Join Mountain Valley Watch: https://www.facebook.com/mountainvalleywatch Communicate: Preservecraig@gmail.com, facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreserveCraigCountyVirginia Contact your local and state representatives: https://preservecraig.org/contact-your-legislators/ Donate to help: To donate directly to Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory rebuild: Donate specific items…
Join us on Saturday, May 31 and learn more about the geography/geology of the Catawba Valley, stream resiliency, riparian buffer programs, stream monitoring and carbon credits. Come for as much of the program as you are able! A light lunch will be provided. If you are approaching McDonalds Mill from…
MVP is asking FERC for approval by May 23rd to put the pipeline in service, even though there are outstanding safety procedures to be completed, as well as unfinished sections of the pipeline. SIGN on NOW to the West Virginia Rivers letter to FERC if you haven’t already! You can…
June 2, 2023 Dear Supporters and Friends of Preserve Craig, The debt ceiling bill passed Congress with an unprecedented over-ride of our rights, that mandates the completion of MVP. We had recently won court rulings confirming the project was violating laws and they were still missing permits, which this new law…
Urgent Request to Remove MVP Free-Pass from the Debt Ceiling Bill that the Senate is voting on today and tomorrow. CALL TO ACTION TODAY – CALL ALL SENATORS AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT SEN. KAINE’S AMENDMENT TO THE DEBT CEILING BILL. Start by Calling Senator Warner’s Roanoke Office AT: 540-857-2676 and…
Urgent request. We are asking you to contact your legislators,in the US House and Senate, to support an amendment to HR 3746, the debt ceiling bill that will be voted on this week, to remove greenlighting the Mountain Valley Pipeline without further oversight. The Bill, HR 3746, currently includes Section 324, which…
Our requests for more time to comment have been granted and the new deadlines are: US Forest Service deadline is now February 21, 2023; Army Corps of Engineers deadline is now February 25, 2023. Forest Service instructions are at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=50036 Army Corps instructions are at: https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Public-Notices/Article/3243440/lrh-2015-00592-gbr-lrp-2015-798-nao-2015-0898/
All, Please see the details below regarding the current opportunity to provide comments on the MVP. Your input is needed. This comment period STILL CURRENTLY ENDS July 14th, 2022. Here’s all the resources we have collected thus far: POWHR FERC Extension LANDING PAGE – this page will be UPDATED regularly…
By Tammy Belinsky under a Creative Commons license https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/02/19/mountain-valley-pipeline-can-never-be-completed-time-everyone-admit-it The Mountain Valley Pipeline Can Never Be Completed—Time For Everyone to Admit It The federal and state agencies must realize that the sooner this project is canceled, the sooner repair can begin. Tammy Belinsky February 19, 2022 The first tree should…
MVP Didn’t Listen: Key Permits Revoked Again Numerous experts warned Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) that their proposed massive pipeline could not be safely built and should not traverse the steepest terrain and most fragile and precious soils and waterways in the eastern U.S. Further, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners (FERC) warned…
Mountain Valley Pipeline Faces New Legal Challenge to Water Permit Below announcement from Sierra Club. Richmond, VA — A new legal action filed today challenges Virginia’s State Water Control Board approval of a key water quality permit for the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. The petition for review of the project…
Future of Mountain Valley Pipeline Called into Question as Fracked Gas Project Receives Another Crucial Setback from Fourth Circuit Below announcement from Sierra Club Washington, DC — Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit invalidated the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approvals for…
Take Action: Most urgent: On August 25, 2021, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released a draft decision on a request for a water quality certification for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). This certification request is made under section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and a certification…
The Forest Service has new plans to permit MVP construction and has a very short comment period. The deadline for comment is this coming Monday, November 9. Please submit a comment now! Details: How to submit a comment to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Background: After years of silence, the Forest…
MVP PERMIT SET TO EXPIRE Preserve Craig Files Motion to Deny Extension THOUSANDS OPPOSE PERMIT RENEWAL On September 11 Preserve Craig filed a compelling motion with the Federal Energy Regulatory Authority (FERC) to intervene and oppose Mountain Valley Pipeline’s (MVP) for a two-year extension of its certificate to build. FERC’s…
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) is no longer. Dominion & Duke Energy explained they are cancelling ACP because cost uncertainty threatens the economic viability of the project.” They made this announcement over our Independence Day holiday weekend, on Sunday, July 5, 2020. The question now is how long will it…
PUBLIC MEETING – Help Chart the Future of Craig County Meet Appalachian Trail Leadership – Hear About Cultural Heritage Project Thursday, January 9, 2020 Craig Botetourt Electric Cooperative Meeting Room (26198 Craigs Creek Rd, New Castle, VA 24127 on Route 615, a little over 1/2 mile from Route 311) 5:30…
Help Chart Our Future – Pizza & Meeting January 9 Preserve Craig invites you to a public meeting January 9, 2020 at the Craig Botetourt Electric Cooperative meeting room (26198 Craigs Creek Rd, New Castle, VA 24127 on Route 615, a little over 1/2 mile from Route 311). A presentation by…
Come Hear from Andrew Downs on January 9 in New Castle Learn About Plans for a Cultural Heritage Area Preserve Craig will hold a meeting in New Castle on January 9, 2020 to hear from the public about future projects, elect officers, and learn about plans for a cultural heritage…
Giving Special Thanks to You – for Helping to Protect This Special Place At this time of year, it is good to look back and reflect on all the great volunteer work that happens in Craig County. Preserve Craig gives special thanks to all the volunteers who help to sustain…
The Jig is Up: EQT to Sell MVP – Pyramid Scheme or Fraud? EQT just quietly informed its shareholders in its quarterly report that it will sell its share of EQM next year, valued now at only $750 Million. EQM is the spin-off company that EQT shed into a separate…
MVP Filed False Data to Get Permits – Preserve Craig Demands Stop Work – MVP Still Can’t Cross AT, Forest or Waterways Preserve Craig filed a powerful new motion in September, asking that all pipeline construction work be halted until faulty core data is corrected. The motion documented that the…
MVP Still Blocked from Crossing Forest or Waterways The proof is in. The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is neither needed nor is it buildable without permanent harm to our water and land and illegally violating basic citizen rights. The question now is whether it will be a useless dinosaur that…
MVP Blocked from Crossing Forest or Waterways Criminal Investigation Underway Three Disappointing Decisions Although MVP has won two recent court decisions and one Virginia state agency reversal, the project is still stalled and risks permanently harming our region unless it is stopped. Federal prosecutors are gathering data from MVP and…
Why the Worst is Yet to Come if we don’t Stop MVP Blessings to You and Yours for A Joyous & Healthy 2019 Last month we reported ten (count them – 10) victories toward protecting our precious water resources and our peaceful way of life in these beautiful mountains. This…
Thanks & Holiday Best Wishes to Craig County More Good News This Week – MVP In Trouble State Water Control Board Votes to Review MVP Permits This Christmas Season, the good news just keeps on coming. Earlier this month we reported six victories toward protecting our precious water resources…
Giving Thanks for This Special Place – And Working to Protect It In 1991, Craig County was threatened with the prospect of a massive 765Kv powerline traversing our farm lands and forests. Preserve Craig, Inc. was formed that year in response to this threat and successfully stopped this project. It…
Preserve Craig Files to Block Forest Service Permits This week we’ll hear from Gordon Jones. His statement to the US Court of Appeals as part of Preserve Craig’s lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service (FS) asks the court to block Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) from harming our mountains and waters…
Stop By Our Booth at Craig County Fall Festival Calling all Craig Countians… Preserve Craig wants to hear from you! We need your input to identify & prioritize our natural, historical, and cultural resources that are worthy of protection and promotion for years to come. On Saturday, October 13, 2018…
Mapping Our Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resource Features Preserve Craig needs your help to document the resources and special features that make our county so rich in natural, historic, and cultural heritage. To do that, we need information from landowners on what types of significant resources and features exist on…
Preserve Craig Files DC Lawsuit to End Permit WV Judge Blocks Greenbrier River Crossing The courtroom battles to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline (FERC) are continuing in several state and federal cases this month. On September 4 Preserve Craig in cooperation with over a dozen other organizations, filed a comprehensive…
When Agencies Fail, Citizens Will Continue to Step Up Special Thanks to Katherine Wilkin, POWHR Coalition Coordinator, for providing this his report on last week’s the State Water Control Board (SWCB) meeting. Last week, the State Water Control Board neglected to take action to protect Virginia’s waterways from the Mountain…
The State Water Control Board (SWCB) met yesterday to review thousands of public comments requesting withdrawal of a key permit that allows Mountain Valley Pipeline to cross hundreds of Virginia streams and rivers without adequate review. The data now shows that the damage is severe. Next week we’ll report the…
MVP THUMBS NOSE AT FEDERAL COURT DECISION FERC Approves 80 Miles of Pipe as “Stabilization” Under Stop Work Order Preserve Craig Files Suit in DC Court to Revoke MVP License There is so much info to share this week that we’ll present it in summary form. First, this VERY DISTURBING…
FERC Stops Work On MVP Preserve Craig Demands All MVP Permits be Revoked Last Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) to halt construction and stabilize all disturbed soils on the entire 303-mile route. Although currently only a temporary halt, Preserve Craig is filing motions…
Preserve Craig Wins Critical Legal Battle: Court Cancels MVP Permits and Forest Plan Changes Last Friday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with the lawsuits filed by Preserve Craig and several other groups, and rescinded both the Forest Service Management Plan changes and the BLM Permits that had…
DEQ comment period extended This week, we’re featuring photos of the mess that early clearing and construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline are causing. It is not too late to speak up and tell our governor, State Water Control Board and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to suspend the permits…
Celebrating Our Independence Eminent Domain was NOT intended for MVP We have much to be proud of and to celebrate on this fourth of July Independence Day. But government-authorized and forceful taking of land, our rights, and quality of life by private companies to exploit and profit at our expense…
MVP Loses Key Federal Permit for River Crossings in WV Two FERC Commissioners: MVP Not in Public interest The Mountain Valley Pipeline does not have the proper permits to cross any rivers in the Huntington District of WV, according to a ruling last week by the Federal Fourth Circuit Court…
A Tribute to Preserve Craig Founder Ellen Coleman What would Ellen Coleman be doing about the Mountain Valley Pipeline if she were alive today? Ellen, one of the founders of Preserve Craig in 1991, would have turned 71 this past Monday, June 11. Seven years ago, when she was terminally…
Write to Governor Ralph Northam Dr. Brian Murphy wrote to Governor Northam in January, asking that he protect Virginia from the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and intervene to block the Department of Environmental Quality’s collusion and rubber-stamp approvals to build. Brian is a natural resources scientist, Chair of Preserve Craig’s…
State Water Board makes DEQ open new stream crossing comment period MVP will have to stop construction if a new review of current general permits to cross all streams leads to their withdrawal. A new public comment period opened because of concern about the safety of the project. Comments must…
FERC Rubber-Stamps Dangerous Expanded MVP Blasting Plan West Virginia Judge Rules Against MVP This Week’s Top Headlines: The deadline for tree-clearing has passed and the tree-sitters are still perched on Peters Mountain near the Appalachian Trail (AT). The Forest Service (FS) issued its third revised closure order, restricting the Appalachian…
Preserve Craig Challenging MVP in Court Numerous lawsuits and appeals are moving forward to block the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). These are not futile efforts, for so many reasons. First, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect our quality of life and this…
Preserve Craig Files to Block Forest Service Permits This week we’ll hear from Gordon Jones. His statement to the US Court of Appeals as part of Preserve Craig’s lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service (FS) asks the court to block Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) from harming our mountains…