Stacy Lovelace for Blue Virginia reports: "Dominion's Thuggish Tricks on Full Display on Day #1 of Atlantic Coast Pipeline Hearing." 12 December 2017.
Stacy Lovelace's account of yesterday's State Water Control Board meeting, day one of two days of meetings during which the board is considering permits for Dominion Energy's fracked gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The most significant details pertain to the behavior of Dominion's private security agents, who seemed to be making an effort to photograph and film anti-pipeline demonstrators, with the possible collusion of the police.
It's not illegal to film or photograph a non-consenting person, provided the subject is in public and it isn't an upskirt shot. However, I think we can take this as a sign of what to expect, from Dominion's hired security and from the police. We know from campaigns like the Standing Rock Sioux's fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline that environmental movements face surveillance, infiltration, and sabotage by police and mercenaries. Don't let it intimidate you, but also don't forget that you will be watched.
Showing posts with label Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
RTD: North Anna Nuclear Generating Station shut down due to water leak
Robert Zullo of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: "North Anna nuclear reactor in Louisa County shuts down after water leak." 11 December 2017.
Dominion Energy shut down one of two reactors at the North Anna Nuclear Generating Station yesterday after what it described as a small water leak. A representative for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that on-site inspectors will be overseeing the issue, and that at this time the agency sees no need for a special inspection.
This is probably not a substantial issue, but considering the current struggle against Dominion in regards to their planned 613 mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline, I thought it was salient to remind everybody of some significant facts regarding the North Anna station. Namely: during construction in the 1970s, Dominion discovered a seismic fault line at the site of the plant, which substantially increased risk of earthquake damage. In 1977, the state fined the utility $32,500 for attempting to obscure the fact of the fault line. As of 2010, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated that the site's annual risk of experiencing an earthquake powerful enough to cause core damage was approximately 1 in 23,000: by contrast, the annual odds of being struck by lightning in the U.S. is about 1 in 700,000, according to National Geographic. IE, the risk is greater than that of a stereotypically rare but plausible scenario. In 2011, tremors from the a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in nearby Mineral tripped emergency sensors and caused both reactors to go offline. The quake also cracked some buildings on the site, and shifted stored spent nuclear fuel.
Why bring this up in the context of the ACP? Mostly because the case of the Lake Anna facility demonstrates that Dominion has lied about the safety of its infrastructure before, and escaped significant consequences for what should have been considered criminal negligence. We should be skeptical about their safety claims.
Dominion Energy shut down one of two reactors at the North Anna Nuclear Generating Station yesterday after what it described as a small water leak. A representative for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that on-site inspectors will be overseeing the issue, and that at this time the agency sees no need for a special inspection.
This is probably not a substantial issue, but considering the current struggle against Dominion in regards to their planned 613 mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline, I thought it was salient to remind everybody of some significant facts regarding the North Anna station. Namely: during construction in the 1970s, Dominion discovered a seismic fault line at the site of the plant, which substantially increased risk of earthquake damage. In 1977, the state fined the utility $32,500 for attempting to obscure the fact of the fault line. As of 2010, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated that the site's annual risk of experiencing an earthquake powerful enough to cause core damage was approximately 1 in 23,000: by contrast, the annual odds of being struck by lightning in the U.S. is about 1 in 700,000, according to National Geographic. IE, the risk is greater than that of a stereotypically rare but plausible scenario. In 2011, tremors from the a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in nearby Mineral tripped emergency sensors and caused both reactors to go offline. The quake also cracked some buildings on the site, and shifted stored spent nuclear fuel.
Why bring this up in the context of the ACP? Mostly because the case of the Lake Anna facility demonstrates that Dominion has lied about the safety of its infrastructure before, and escaped significant consequences for what should have been considered criminal negligence. We should be skeptical about their safety claims.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Candlelight Vigil Against the Pipelines
Tonight, from 6:30-8:30pm on Governor's Street at the Virginia Capitol (between East Main and East Broad, Richmond VA), the Chesapeake Climate Action Network is holding a candlelight vigil against two proposed gas pipelines, the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines. Last week, the Department of Environmental Quality rubber-stamped necessary permits for the Mountain View pipeline despite the lack of substantive environmental review. The state Water Control Board is meeting today and tomorrow to decide if it will permit the Atlantic Coast pipeline.
McAuliffe has the power to put a stop to both projects, but he's chosen to heed the big donors in the energy sector. The only way to flip him is to demonstrate such overwhelming and disruptive opposition to the pipelines that he understands that his continuing support will incur serious political consequences.
For more info and to RSVP, see the event page. If you have questions or can't find the vigil, call Jamshid Bakhtiari at 757-386-8107.
McAuliffe has the power to put a stop to both projects, but he's chosen to heed the big donors in the energy sector. The only way to flip him is to demonstrate such overwhelming and disruptive opposition to the pipelines that he understands that his continuing support will incur serious political consequences.
For more info and to RSVP, see the event page. If you have questions or can't find the vigil, call Jamshid Bakhtiari at 757-386-8107.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Two vital State Water Control Board meetings this week
We've got two important State Water Control Board meetings coming up tomorrow and Tuesday (December 11th and 12th 2017). The Water Control Board will be considering- and attempting to approve- permits for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Last week, they rubber-stamped approvals for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which has not yet had a substantive environmental impact review. Go over to No ACP, Free Nelson, and Appalachian Voices for more information. It's very important that the public show up to oppose this pipeline; come for a day, come for an hour, just come for however long you can.
Both the December 11th and 12th meetings will begin at 9:30am, and be held at the Trinity Family Life Center (3601 Dill Road, Richmond VA).
If the meeting regarding the Mountain Valley Pipeline is any indication, there will be a substantial police presence.
Pipelines and other fossil fuel related infrastructure are dangerous. Not just in terms of leaks and explosions, although those things will definitely happen and definitely devastate the communities and ecosystems around the project, but in terms of the existential threat posed by climate change. Every multi-billion-dollar pipeline like this is the energy industry doubling-down on climate-change-accelerating power sources. Do you think Dominion Power will bother investing in renewables if it's got a pipeline to send natural gas to harbors for export? Of course not; renewables just aren't a substantive part of their plans, not because they're untenable, but because they will be somewhat less profitable during the transition. We can't just sit by while the architects of the climate apocalypse speed up the disaster.
Both the December 11th and 12th meetings will begin at 9:30am, and be held at the Trinity Family Life Center (3601 Dill Road, Richmond VA).
If the meeting regarding the Mountain Valley Pipeline is any indication, there will be a substantial police presence.
Pipelines and other fossil fuel related infrastructure are dangerous. Not just in terms of leaks and explosions, although those things will definitely happen and definitely devastate the communities and ecosystems around the project, but in terms of the existential threat posed by climate change. Every multi-billion-dollar pipeline like this is the energy industry doubling-down on climate-change-accelerating power sources. Do you think Dominion Power will bother investing in renewables if it's got a pipeline to send natural gas to harbors for export? Of course not; renewables just aren't a substantive part of their plans, not because they're untenable, but because they will be somewhat less profitable during the transition. We can't just sit by while the architects of the climate apocalypse speed up the disaster.
Friday, September 1, 2017
The People's Pipeline Protest: a Peaceful Sit-In
Thursday, September 14th 2017, from 12-1pm, at all seven Department of Environmental Quality offices throughout the state (see link for addresses), the CCAN Action Fund is holding a peaceful sit-in protest at the doors to demonstrate opposition to the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines. The proposed fracked gas pipelines would require the seizure of people's homes and farms, would place unacceptable risk on the communities they traversed, and would ultimately accelerate climate change. The project has enjoyed abiding support from governor Terry McAuliffe. From the event description:
"In a culminating appeal, a group of peaceful community leaders led by farmers and landowners from across the state will sit silently across the office entrances in a time-honored act of dignified protest. If you deem these pipelines such a major threat that you’ve considered creative peaceful protest, the time is now. This will likely be your best and perhaps last chance to exercise your freedom of speech in this most powerful way BEFORE any final state decisions are made."
For more info and to RSVP, see the link. DEQ offices are located in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Glen Allen, Woodbridge, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, and Abingdon.
"In a culminating appeal, a group of peaceful community leaders led by farmers and landowners from across the state will sit silently across the office entrances in a time-honored act of dignified protest. If you deem these pipelines such a major threat that you’ve considered creative peaceful protest, the time is now. This will likely be your best and perhaps last chance to exercise your freedom of speech in this most powerful way BEFORE any final state decisions are made."
For more info and to RSVP, see the link. DEQ offices are located in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Glen Allen, Woodbridge, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, and Abingdon.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Help NO ACP with their Resistance Bus
NO ACP, the pipeline resistance group, has obtained a bus. They’re raising money to help refurbish it so that they can use it in their efforts to preserve the environment and assist other organizations.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
"Resist: No Atlantic Coast Pipeline" Rally at VCU
Monday, January 30th 2017, from 7-8pm, at the VCU Monroe Park Campus Compass (900 Park Avenue, Richmond VA), Divest VCU for Climate Justice and the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition are holding a rally against the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, in response to the Trump administration's recently-published list of 50 top infrastructure priorities.
Speakers Lakshmi Ford from Friends of Buckingham County, Virginia, Drew Shannon from the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition, and Jam Bakhtiari from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network will provide tools for organizing to resist ant new fossil fuel infrastructure.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
Speakers Lakshmi Ford from Friends of Buckingham County, Virginia, Drew Shannon from the Virginia Student Environmental Coalition, and Jam Bakhtiari from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network will provide tools for organizing to resist ant new fossil fuel infrastructure.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
"Troubled Water: Voices from Bath" Anti-Atlantic Coast Pipeline Premiere in Richmond, VA
Wednesday, November 30th 2016, from 6:30-10:30pm, at the Hofheimer Building (2818 West Broad Street, Richmond VA), the multi-media anti-Atlantic Coast Pipeline project, "Troubled Water: Voices from Bath," will have its Richmond debut. From the event description:
"Troubled Water: Voices from Bath is a multi-media, multi-perspective experience, addressing issues of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and the potential impacts in Bath County, VA. Through exquisite photos and a moving documentary-style film, this project shares stories of Bath residents, their history, relationship with the land and dreams for it. It gives voice to those with deep understanding of the unique environment of the Bath County area and, above all, illustrates and magnifies the highly personal ways the ACP is affecting the vibrant community and magnificent environment of Bath County and the heartlands of Virginia."
Free, open to the public. For more info and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your Google calendar, see this link.
"Troubled Water: Voices from Bath is a multi-media, multi-perspective experience, addressing issues of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and the potential impacts in Bath County, VA. Through exquisite photos and a moving documentary-style film, this project shares stories of Bath residents, their history, relationship with the land and dreams for it. It gives voice to those with deep understanding of the unique environment of the Bath County area and, above all, illustrates and magnifies the highly personal ways the ACP is affecting the vibrant community and magnificent environment of Bath County and the heartlands of Virginia."
Free, open to the public. For more info and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your Google calendar, see this link.
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