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Commonwealth Virginia: Committee Assignments T General

Delegate Joseph R. Yost expresses opposition to the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline project in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He summarizes two main concerns: 1) The project's impact on private property rights, as eminent domain for a private company is questionable and surveys were conducted without proper protocols. 2) The impact on cultural and natural resources in Giles County, VA, as the pipeline route passes near or through important areas like the Appalachian Trail, waterways, historic sites, and more. He urges the FERC to examine the project closely and balance energy infrastructure needs with protecting individual rights and resources.

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Commonwealth Virginia: Committee Assignments T General

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20150824-0014 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 08/17/2015

COMMONWEALTH

OF VIRGINIA

HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND

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JOSEPH R. TOST

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

5 9 WENONAH

AVENUE
PEARISSURG. VIRGINIA 24
I

E D U 0 AT 0 N
GENERAL LAWS
I

TWELFTH DISTRICT

HEALTH. WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS

August 12, 2015

The Honorable Norman C. Bay and Commissioners

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 1st Street

Washington,

D.C. 20426

Dear Chairman Bay and Commissioners

Clark, Honorable,

Moeller, and LaFleur:

write to you today to offer my views on Docket PF15-3-000,the Mountain Valley Pipeline
(MVP), jointly proposed by EQT and NextEra Energy. Over the past year, have listened and
communicated with many in the 12th District who have shared with me their concerns about
the proposed MVP project. have also spent many hours researching the proposed MVP
project and natural gas pipeline infrastructure generally. In response to what I have heard and
learned, I feel it is necessary to share with you several concerns that I, and many others, believe
are important for you to consider and to also register my opposition to this project.
I

am a lifelong resident of the 12th District. I was born, raised and currently reside in
Pearisburg, the county seat of Giles County through which the MVP is proposed to bisect. love
my home and could not imagine living anywhere else. A quote by John Muir, an author and
naturalist, perfectly sums up my love of this area, "the mountains are calling and must
go." This is why write to you today.
I

In all the conversations I have

need for energy infrastructure
life. However, it is imperative
least disruptive way possible,

had regarding the proposed MVP, no one argues against the

and resources for both our economy and our daily
that such resources be removed and infrastructure built in the
something feel the proposed MVP to be lacking.
I

have condensed my concerns into two main categories highlighted

below.

Impact on Property Rights

The single biggest concern I have regarding the proposed MVP, is the protection of private
property rights. In my view property rights are sacrosanct. This idea is not new but something

DISTRICT &540)

922-8032

RICHMOND.

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698-101 2

E-MAIL

DELJYOST@HOUSE VIRGINIA GOV

20150824-0014 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 08/17/2015

that dates back to the founding of our country. Most are unaware that the famous line in the
Declaration of Independence "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was actually an edited
version of Jefferson's original sentence "life, liberty and property." In 2012, the voters of
Virginia overwhelmingly imbedded this concept in our Commonwealth's Constitution.
The issue of private property rights and the proposed MVP has been raised repeatedly
throughout this process and in some cases, it has been shown that the proper protocols have
not been followed for gaining access to private property. This was highlighted earlier in the
summer when MVP suspended the surveying of properties in Giles County after attempting to
survey property along the proposed route without following state law.

to private property for surveying by natural gas companies, even if

the owner forbids entry, but adequate notice must be provided. It should be noted that the
constitutionality of this law is being challenged in both state and federal courts. Recently in
West Virginia, a judge ruled that MVP had failed to establish, as required by West Virginia law,
that the pipeline project offered sufficient public use to allow entering private property without
an owner's permission for surveying. While a similar statute in Virginia does not require natural
gas companies to demonstrate public use, Article I, Section 11 of the Virginia Constitution is
exceedingly clear: "That the General Assemblv shall oass no law wherebv orivate orooertv. the
riaht to which is fundamental. shall be damaaed or taken exceot for oublic use."
Virginia law grants access

also note that MVP is a private company and many, myself included, question their ability
is the destination of the natural gas that the proposed
MVP will be transporting and whether it is for "public use." At a public hearing earlier this
spring Paul Friedman, a project manager with FERC, repeatedly dismissed concerns that natural
gas transported through the proposed MVP would be exported. However, a month later it was
reported via The Roanoke Times that the proposed MVP could be one supply source for
liquefied natural gas exported to India.
I

will

to use eminent domain. Also at question

Given that the "public use" of the natural gas being transported through the MVP is in question
and the ongoing legal cases with Virginia law, can the MVP legally exercise the taking of private
property? This question will hopefully be answered in the coming weeks in the courts.

Impact on Cultural and Natural Resources

Also at stake with the proposed MVP is the impact on our area's cultural and natural
resources. The proposed route of the MVP passes either closely by or directly through
Giles County's most valuable cultural and natural resources.
~

some of

The Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine, cuts
through Giles County offering SO miles of trail hiking to visitors and ample opportunities
to see the natural beauty of the area. The proposed MVP would directly cross the
Appalachian

Trail.

20150824-0014 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 08/17/2015

Big Stoney Creek. Big Stoney Creek is a section of waterway in Giles and a premier trout
fishing stream. I grew up fishing on this stream and still do today. The MVP is proposed
to directly cross Big Stoney Creek.
The Cascades. The Cascades is a 69 foot waterfall and was named one of the "Top 10
Spectacular Waterfalls" in the United States in 2014 by CNN. The falls, day use area and
several miles of hiking trails attract more than 100,000 visitors each year to Giles County
and is a major source of tourism revenue for the area. The MVP is proposed to pass
within one and one-half miles of the day use area. It will also cross the public road
which offers the only means of access to this area.
Historic Covered Bridges. The proposed MVP would go within one-half mile of two
historic covered bridges in Giles. These bridges are heavily visited and
photographed. Numbering more than 100 in the early 1900s, today only eight authentic
timber covered bridges survive in Virginia, three of which are in Giles County.
Greater Newport Historic District. The proposed route cuts in half the Greater Newport
Historic District, in which is located many important cultural and historical assets to
Giles County. The district covers 33 square miles and has nearly 1,400 buildings and
structures, over half of which are contributory in establishing a national historic district.

this is a challenging issue. Balancing the need for energy infrastructure while also
respecting an individual's property rights and safeguarding our natural resources for future
enjoyment is no easy task. However, for reasons I have stated above, I again would like to state
my opposition to the proposed MVP project. It is my hope you will examine this project closely
over the coming months taking these and many other considerations under advisement and
determine the same.
In closing,

Thank you for your time and attention in reviewing this letter.