Our family has been battling the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) for over three years now. We’re currently being sued by this private company for eminent domain and immediate possession of our prime pasture and bottom land. Last Friday and Saturday (1/12 & 1/13), we sat through two grueling days of court hearings. Just under 300 defendants are a part of this lawsuit and 14 lawyers strongly argued the defense while the pipeline company laid out their greedy desire to begin construction by February 1st, PRIOR to any form of just compensation to landowners. What we are up against feels criminal; to seize property and begin destruction of trees, water, and land without due process is theft.
We face harsh realities as the judge is expected to rule on whether or not MVP receives immediate possession of our land (and 295 others) by the end of January. The support and encouragement from so many people in our community continues to be a huge blessing and gift…thank you! If you are willing to donate to our Family Farm’s legal efforts to defend the land and protect water, we would be so grateful. If so, please consider donating $25 or whatever amount you feel you can to help with legal fees and other needs as we continue in our struggle against corporate greed.
WATER
“Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), LLC, (VMRC Application #17-1609) requests authorization to install a natural gas pipeline beneath the bed of 18 streams and/or rivers with drainage areas of greater than five (5) square miles, which are considered to be State-owned subaqueous bottomlands of the Commonwealth, along the designated pipeline corridor in Giles, Montgomery, Franklin, Roanoke and Pittsylvania Counties.”
Public Hearing: MVP Water Crossings
Tuesday, January 23rd, 9:30AM
VA Marine Resources Commission
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, VA
Another area we need your support is in submitting written comments to the Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC). Teels and Little Creek are both in MVP’s path and connected to our land. They propose to trench and cross through these stream bottoms, which are owned by the state (as stated above). MVP must have special permits from the VMRC in order to cross these creeks (as well as the 16 others in Virginia, with 8 in Franklin County and 2 directly connected to our farm – view the map: VMRC_MVP).
Would you be willing to write to the VMRC about the importance of protecting water for our farm, in Franklin County and in the state of Virginia? We’ve uploaded document written by a professional hydro-geologist to help in drafting your comments: HYDROGEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF MVP APPLICATION TO VMRC
Public comments can be made electronically via email to Randy [dot] Owen [at] mrc [dot] virginia [dot] gov (Deadline January 22nd @ 5pm.) Please specify the project you are commenting on: MVP Application Number: 17-1609.
Thank you again for your support and help!!
