HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Mahan,

McGraw, Susman and R. M. Thompson)


[Introduced February 4, 2002

]
Requesting that Dominion Transmission, Inc., give serious consideration to the concerns and suggestions of the citizens of Raleigh County as they relate to the proposed Greenbrier Pipeline Project.

Whereas , Natural gas is an environmentally-friendly fossil fuel that is abundant in West Virginia; and
 Whereas , West Virginia is the leading natural gas producing state east of the Mississippi River; and
 Whereas , The production, transmission, storage and distribution of natural gas provides many benefits to the state of West Virginia through jobs, taxes, and economic development potential; and
 Whereas , Development of infrastructure is critical to the economic development of West Virginia, provided that it is undertaken in a manner sensitive to the needs of the people and communities of the state; and
 Whereas , Dominion Transmission, Inc., of Clarksburg, West Virginia, hereinafter "Dominion", and Piedmont Natural Gas, Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina, are sponsoring the proposed Greenbrier Pipeline Project, a two hundred seventy mile natural gas pipeline extending from Kanawha County through southern West Virginia and Virginia into North Carolina; and
 Whereas , The Greenbrier Pipeline Project will cover two hundred seventy miles stretching from the Dominion gas compressor station near Clendenin, West Virginia, to its completion point in North Carolina; and
 Whereas , This pipeline will consist of a thirty inch diameter pipe which will have a maximum allowable operating pressure of one thousand two hundred fifty pounds per square inch, while pumping roughly six hundred million cubic feet of natural gas along its route; and
 Whereas , The delegation from the twenty-seventh district has expressed strong opposition to the original proposed route through Raleigh County due to environmental and other citizen concerns; and
 Whereas , The Greenbrier Pipeline Project will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will study a broad range of environmental and safety considerations, including an environmental impact statement that will explore the impact of the pipeline on the environment; and
 Whereas , Federal regulations require that affected landowners and local officials be notified at the time an application is filed about the opportunity for those individuals to participate during the federal government review of the proposed pipeline; and
 Whereas , It is requested that the officials at Dominion present a route that would minimize interference with the residential property and livelihoods of the citizens of Raleigh County and the citizens of all counties along the proposed route;
Whereas , The Greenbrier Pipeline Project can contribute to the economic development of West Virginia by providing infrastructure necessary to aid the production, storage and distribution community, as well as to increase the availability of clean and dependable natural gas for industrial development; and
 Whereas , The Legislature of West Virginia desires to encourage the development of all infrastructure in the state, provided that such development is as compatible as possible with the needs of our people and our communities, with adverse impact minimized to the highest reasonable extent possible; and
 Whereas , The environmental impact studies will be completed in a timely manner and posted in the affected areas for review by the residents and officials of Raleigh County; and
 Whereas , It is the desire of the Raleigh County delegation that should this pipeline be constructed Dominion select a route that would not hinder economic development nor minimize the natural beauty of Raleigh County; and
 Whereas , The delegation from the twenty-seventh delegate district strongly urges the officials of Dominion take into consideration the health, welfare, infrastructure needs and environmental issues as the study on the Greenbrier Pipeline Project continues; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests that Dominion take into consideration the safety and welfare of our State's citizens and present a plan with the least disruptive route that does not infringe on the environment or hinder economic growth in Southern West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the officials at Dominion Transmission, Inc., and the County Commission of Raleigh County.