Residents of the Union Hill and Union Grove communities presented a Community Veto Resolution to the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors opposing the proposed natural gas compressor station in Buckingham County.
The resolution states: “Buckingham County Board of Supervisors hereby opposes the Atlantic Coast Pipeline compressor station because of its negative public health and environmental justice impacts.” The resolution identifies Virginia law and the Commonwealth Constitution in support of the veto and calls for the Board to exercise its authority to protect its citizens.
John Laury, speaking on behalf of Concern for the New Generation, asked Board members to “make the health, safety and welfare of the individuals directly affected by the proposed compressor station its first priority.” He continued, “Our community is not the place for an industrial project of this kind. Public health and safety deserves to be your first consideration.”
Sharon Ponton, an organizer with the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL), read part of the resolution to the Board which states, “Rural, minority communities are unfairly chosen for projects which industrialize our communities, causing lower property values, pollution and health issues for people who have spent their entire lives working hard to better their status.” Ponton concluded, “Sometimes protecting the community means just say no. We ask you to adopt this resolution today.”
Members of Concern for the New Generation met recently to discuss the resolution and agreed to ask the Board of Supervisors to support it. Pointing to the need for the veto, Kathie Mosley, co-chair of the group, said. “We want the Board of Supervisors to put the citizens first.”
Addressing the Board, Ponton gave further rationale for the Board of Supervisors to act:
- the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia declares that a county may adopt such measures as it deems expedient to secure and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of its inhabitants;
- authority is granted to local governing bodies to prohibit the use of land for industrial uses;
- compressor station noise would have negative impacts on public health of Union Hill residents;
- a state permit would allow annual emissions of over nine thousand pounds of hazardous air pollutants.
- a natural gas compressor station is not an acceptable use under Buckingham County Ordinances for Zoning Regulation and Special Use Permits;
- state regulation is not effective in addressing the concerns of the municipal government.
Concern for the New Generation was founded by Union Hill and Union Grove residents to oppose to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline compressor station based on public health and safety.
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is an environmental and social justice organization founded in 1984. BREDL has been incorporated in Virginia since 1992.
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