Two Pipeline Community Meetings
Mountain Valley Watch (MVW) Workshop + Drone Training — June 26
When: Tuesday, June 26: 3:30-5:30
Where: Lindside Methodist Church Center
8764 Seneca Trail South (Next to MVP crossing of US-219, north side of Lindside)
Mountain Valley Watch (MVW) is a collaborative effort to observe and document MVP construction activity to assure compliance with environmental regulations during construction. This workshop is for people interested in learning what to look for, and how to help document and report construction issues like water source contamination, slope failure, damage to adjacent properties, and more. Drone demonstration/training will follow the monitoring workshop for those interested.
Topics include: what to look for at construction sites presented by Kirk Bowers, an environmental engineer; how to report problems in West Virginia presented by Autumn Crowe, Program Director with West Virginia Rivers Coalition; and using drones and GIS mapping technology to capture and share evidence of MVP violations along the right of way, access roads and work spaces, presented by Jason Shelton, co-owner of Blacksburg-based New River Geographic.
This monitoring workshop is co-sponsored by Save Monroe and ICWA with support from POWHR (Preserve Our Water, Heritage, Rights). For questions, please use reply email or contact Nancy Bouldin at 304-832-6020.
Atlantic Coast Pipeline Compliance Surveillance Initiative (CSI) Orientation and Training — June 27
When: Wednesday, June 27, 6-8 pm
Where: Linwood Library
Citizen volunteers are needed to monitor pipeline construction (and post-construction).
Some of you have participated in water monitor training, and/or have attended the CSI (Compliance Surveillance Initiative) orientation in Staunton, and/or have watched the webinar on site monitoring. This meeting will parlay these trainings, along with newcomers coming to their first training, into an organized regional front to watchdog our pristine homeland.
Please participate if your schedule permits, whether you have received training or are new to the process. Knowledgeable trainers will be led by Rick Webb, head of CSI; with some or all of the following resource persons: Autumn Crowe, WV Rivers; Kirk Bowers; Lew Freeman; Dick Brooks; Ben Cunningham; Malcom Cameron; and Dan Shaffer.
Topics will include a CSI overview; Local coordination; Citizen reporting options (there are several); CSI mapping system; Avenza maps; and Erosion and Sediment Control requirements. We will have some breakout sessions for local volunteer coordination, and personalized help will be offered so that everyone is clear on how to monitor and report.
We will need leadership for locales who can call volunteers to check out construction areas following heavy rain events and other needs. Water monitoring will need support as well, including keeping the equipment up and available. At our Water Monitor training in May, some of us have already set up procedures, however more volunteer support is needed.
We realize that 6 pm is dinner time for some. If you like, you may bring some food ahead of the meeting to eat in the library’s kitchen. We plan to have the Linwood Library doors open by 5:30pm.
