The length of a football field (360 feet) is the actual estimated minimum width (347 feet) of the proposed methane transmission lines to cross West Virginia and Virginia.
Dominion Transmission Inc. refers to the width of the ACP to be 124 feet. This is the 125 foot minimum width requirements set by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) with total disregard for existing federal and state standards regarding the rugged karst terrain and elevation challenges.
Mountain top flattening is required for the level workspace mandated for the construction equipment, work area and emergency access. Eleven knobs would be flattened including Point Mountain, Elk Mountain, Mingo Knob, Middle Mountain. Massive equipment is necessary to drill and blast the required 26 feet depth and width through karst.
The INGAA 125 foot minimum includes on the Spoil Side 3 feet for the Edge of Row, three feet for Work Space, 20 feet for Top Soil, 29 feet for Ditch Spoil and 12 feet for the Ditch Area.
On the Working Side there is 13 feet for Work Area, 22 feet area for construction equipment, 5 feet for the Work Space, 15 feet space for Construction Equipment and 3 feet for the Edge of Row.
At least 104 feet minimum would be added according to federal regulations including: 10 feet for the Buffer Zone, 29 feet for the Equipment Work Area, 13 feet for Pipe Make Up, 5 foot Separation Zone (maneuvering equipment), ten feet for Top Soil Segregation and 25 – 55 X 100-150’ for Water body Crossings.
It is rarely mentioned that low flying helicopters would monitor the 500 plus mile pathway from the Ohio River to the Atlantic bi-monthly looking for leaks with in-fared equipment and bi-monthly low flying sprays in the Spring and Summer months to inhibit flora and fauna growth with chemicals creating a permanent and unknown chemical runoff affecting wildlife, streams, water table and underground rivers.
-Submitted by Lauren D. Ragland
