The circuitous path of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline now loops through nine properties protected by Virginia conservation easements on its way to a critical proposed crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains above the Wintergreen resort in Nelson County, where the natural gas transmission line would traverse at least one other state conservation easement.
All but one of the affected easements came into the 42-inch pipeline’s path under a new route proposed this year in response to concerns expressed by the U.S. Forest Service. That is the same federal agency that holds the key to the proposed crossing of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail by drilling through the mountain near Wintergreen’s sole entrance.
Dominion, the Richmond-based energy company that leads the $5 billion pipeline project, has proposed to compensate for crossing state-protected properties by offering conservation easements on an 1,100-acre farm in Highland County and 85 acres along the Rockfish River in Nelson. But the state foundation that holds the easements isn’t sure it will have the final say on whether to accept the land swap for a route that ultimately would be determined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC.
