The proposed pipeline would pass through the foreground of this viewshed from Hankey Mountain looking south. Photo by Stefanie Morris. SSVC voted unanimously to oppose the Atlantic Coast Pipeline at its annual meeting on Dec. 11. See our position and rationale below:
SSVC of PATC opposes the proposed Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline because of its potential impact on the Appalachian Trail and National Park lands on the Blue Ridge and on the Shenandoah Mountain area of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF), both of which that have outstanding scenic, ecological and recreational values.
Rationale: SSVC is concerned that the pipeline route crosses the AT at a site near Paul Wolfe Shelter and visible from Humpback Rocks, a popular scenic overlook on the AT and a short hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The section of the AT between Rockfish Gap and Humpback Rocks is very popular for hiking and is a poor location for a major pipeline.
In the GWNF the Rt. 250 corridor is a scenic gateway to Shenandoah Mountain, which lies in the heart of the national forest and has a network of almost 200 miles of trails, including a segment of the Great Eastern Trail. A 90,000-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, proposed by Friends of Shenandoah Mountain, has been recommended for Congressional designation by the new GWNF management plan. SSVC and PATC are strong supporters of this proposal. For the past 30 years our chapter has frequently hiked, picnicked, camped, and maintained trails in the Shenandoah Mountain area. We recently completed a 2-year project to measure all the trails on Shenandoah Mountain to supply accurate distances for a new PATC guidebook, soon to be published. The Shenandoah Mountain area is far too unique in terms of ecology and recreation to be a suitable location for a major interstate gas transmission pipeline. In fact we can’t imagine a worse place.
The pipeline will have a negative impact on:
The 42” pipeline will require a permanent linear clearing that will create a pathway for invasive species that will degrade the ecological integrity of the area. The Braley Pond – Ramseys Draft area is of particular interest to us because of the scenic beauty and the flora and fauna found there. It draws people from the Shenandoah Valley and the whole mid-Atlantic region.
SSVC of PATC opposes the proposed Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline because of its potential impact on the Appalachian Trail and National Park lands on the Blue Ridge and on the Shenandoah Mountain area of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF), both of which that have outstanding scenic, ecological and recreational values.
Rationale: SSVC is concerned that the pipeline route crosses the AT at a site near Paul Wolfe Shelter and visible from Humpback Rocks, a popular scenic overlook on the AT and a short hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The section of the AT between Rockfish Gap and Humpback Rocks is very popular for hiking and is a poor location for a major pipeline.
In the GWNF the Rt. 250 corridor is a scenic gateway to Shenandoah Mountain, which lies in the heart of the national forest and has a network of almost 200 miles of trails, including a segment of the Great Eastern Trail. A 90,000-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area, proposed by Friends of Shenandoah Mountain, has been recommended for Congressional designation by the new GWNF management plan. SSVC and PATC are strong supporters of this proposal. For the past 30 years our chapter has frequently hiked, picnicked, camped, and maintained trails in the Shenandoah Mountain area. We recently completed a 2-year project to measure all the trails on Shenandoah Mountain to supply accurate distances for a new PATC guidebook, soon to be published. The Shenandoah Mountain area is far too unique in terms of ecology and recreation to be a suitable location for a major interstate gas transmission pipeline. In fact we can’t imagine a worse place.
The pipeline will have a negative impact on:
- Scenic Rt. 250 gateway to GWNF
- Hiking trails in the Georgia Camp-Ramseys Draft-Braley Pond-Dowells Draft- Hankey Mountain Area in the GWNF The AT between Rockfish Gap and Humpback Rocks
- The scenic Shenandoah Mountain area, which has the largest tract of mostly unfragmented national forest land in the Eastern US.
- Ramseys Draft Wilderness because it slices through the adjacent forest
- Public safety of hikers and other forest recreationists since it has a 1100’ radius of potential impact (from explosions).
The 42” pipeline will require a permanent linear clearing that will create a pathway for invasive species that will degrade the ecological integrity of the area. The Braley Pond – Ramseys Draft area is of particular interest to us because of the scenic beauty and the flora and fauna found there. It draws people from the Shenandoah Valley and the whole mid-Atlantic region.
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