1. Forum on Natural Gas Pipelines
Roanoke College
October 12, 2016
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

2. Dr. Richard A. Smith, Vice President and Dean of the College
Welcome
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

3. Dr. Valerie Banschbach, Professor and Chair of Environmental Studies
Why a forum on pipelines? 
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

4. Dr. Diana Christopulos Overview
DR. DIANA CHRISTOPULOS is a graduate of Cornell and Binghamton universities and has been a college professor, a corporate human resources vice president, and president of her own consulting business. Since her retirement in 2003, she has completed the Appalachian Trail and helped found the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition.
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

5. Update since March 9, 2015 Forum
March 9, 2015 at Virginia Western Community College lasted all day. This is an update!
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

6. How many new pipelines?
Mountain Valley Pipeline is one of 19 pending natural gas pipeline projects in the Appalachian basin Source: “A Bridge Too Far,” Oil Change International, July 2016
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

7. How many new pipelines in Virginia?
Existing pipelines supply Roanoke and New River Valleys
2 new active proposals (MVP and ACP)
At least 3 others proposed
Source: Roanoke Times
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

8. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Primary decision maker for interstate pipelines
Independent agency
Requires
Demonstration of public need
Environmental Impact Statement
Receiving comments on MVP for Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) until December 22, 2016
Step 11 of 17 in the process
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

9. Mountain Valley Pipeline
301 miles long
Virginia counties: Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke, Franklin, Pittsylvania
1,495 landowner parcels (total)
Approval provides federal power of eminent domain
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

10. Mountain Valley Pipeline
42-inch diameter
125-foot construction clearing
50-foot permanent clearing
1,440 psig (pressure)
Blast radius: 942 feet
Evacuation radius: 3,600 feet
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

11. 245.2 miles of forested land crossed; 1,700 ft. of old growth forest
97 crossings of perennial water bodies
120.0 miles of steep slopes (>20%) crossed
224.2 miles with landslide potential
53.3 miles of karst (almost all in Virginia)
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

12. Developers and customers
OWNERS
EQT Midstream (45%)
NextEra Energy (31%)
Con Edison (12.5%)
WGL Holdings (7%)*
Vega Energy Partners (3%)
RGC Resources (1%)
OPERATOR:
EQT subsidiary
CUSTOMERS
EQT (64.5%)
USG Properties/NextEra (12.5%)
Consolidated Edison (12.5%)
WGL Midstream (10%)*
Roanoke Gas (0.5%)
* Parent has sales agreement to export natural gas to India [and] reported that most… will be supplied by a company that is a major player in natural gas activities in the Appalachian Basin. Roanoke Times , June 25, 2015
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College

13. Public positions taken
SUPPORT
RGC Resources/Roanoke Gas
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce
Pittsylvania County (terminus)
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
NEUTRAL
Franklin County Board of Supervisors interested in tap (would have to pay for it)
EXPRESSED CONCERNS:
Reps. Goodlatte, Griffith, Hurt
Sens. Warner, Kaine
OPPOSED:
Local government Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke County boards of supervisors
Landowners (Preserve Giles, Preserve Craig, Preserve Montgomery/New River Valley, Preserve Roanoke/Bent Mountain, Preserve Franklin)
Environmental/outdoor/conservation Sierra Club, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition
Controversial, but not traditionally partisan
October 12, 2016
Roanoke College