PURPOSE OF NOTICE: To seek public comment and announce two public hearings on (1) a draft permit from the State Water Control Board that will allow the filling of wetlands and streams in Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke, Franklin, and Pittsylvania Counties, Virginia and (2) the Board’s intent to provide Section 401 Water Quality Certification for activities authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The public comment period is from August 28, 2021 to October 13, 2021.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: The Pigg River Community Center, 2410 South Main Street, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151 on September 27, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and Radford University – Kyle Hall, Howe Street, Radford Virginia 24141 on September 28, 2021 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The public hearing will adjourn when everyone present has had an opportunity to speak, or the facility closing time, whichever occurs first. Persons planning to attend the public hearings are advised to check the DEQ website at the link below for any changes to the meeting format or public health protocols.
PURPOSE OF THE HEARING: To obtain input from the public related to this project for the Board to consider.
PERMIT NAME: Virginia Water Protection Permit issued by the State Water Control Board
EFFECT OF PERMIT: Pursuant to Va. Code 62.1-44.15:20.D, issuance of the permit shall, in conjunction with Certification No. 17-001, constitute the certification required under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act for the project.
APPLICANT NAME, ADDRESS AND PERMIT NUMBER: Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC; 2200 Energy Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317; VWPP No. 21-0416
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC has applied for a new permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project. The project is a 42-inch natural gas pipeline located along an approximate 107-mile-long corridor from the Virginia-West Virginia state line in Giles County southeast through Craig County, Montgomery County, Roanoke County, Franklin County, and Pittsylvania County to the Transco Village (located approximately three miles east of Chatham, Virginia). The permit will allow the applicant to work in surface waters consisting of wetlands and streams. The proposed activity would permanently affect 1.19 acres of palustrine forested wetland (PFO), 0.76 of an acre of palustrine scrub-shrub wetland (PSS), 0.04 of an acre of palustrine emergent wetland (PEM), and 63 linear feet of streams. The proposed activity would temporarily affect 3.91 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands (PEM) and 17,065 linear feet of streams. The activity proposed in the permit will affect surface waters in the Middle New, Upper James, Upper Roanoke and Banister watersheds. To compensate for the surface waters affected, the applicant would provide 7.114 wetland mitigation credits and 298 stream mitigation credits, and restore temporarily impacted areas to their original condition. The State Water Control Board’s preliminary decision is to issue the permit.
HOW TO COMMENT: DEQ accepts comments by hand delivery, e-mail, fax or postal mail. All comments and requests must be in writing and be received by DEQ during the comment period. Submittals must include the names, mailing addresses and telephone numbers of the commenter/requester and of all persons represented by the commenter/requester. The Board also accepts oral comments at the public hearing. To make a statement at the public hearing, write your name on a sign-up sheet available before the hearing. You may sign up only for yourself. The hearing officer sets the time allowed for each statement. When a hearing is held, the final decision is made by the State Water Control Board.
HOW A DECISION IS MADE: After public comments have been considered and addressed by the permit or other means, the State Water Control Board will make the final decision.
CONTACT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, DOCUMENT REQUESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Steve Hardwick; Central Office, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia 23218; Phone: 804-698-4168; E-mail: MVP@deq.virginia.gov; Fax: (804) 698-4032. The public may review the draft permit and application on the DEQ website at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/get-involved/topics-of-interest/mountain-valley-pipeline/-fsiteid-1. The public may request copies of the documents from the contact person listed above.