Officials reveal new route for pipeline

VERONA — Nearly a year after Augusta County leaders raised concerns over the possible contamination of a protected water supply from the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Dominion is working to address the issue — with a new route.

“In listening to the concerns of the Augusta County Service Authority (ACSA), the Atlantic Coast Pipeline routing engineers believe they have found a promising route variation to avoid the Lyndhurst Well, i.e. the Lyndhurst Source Water Protection Area,” said Jim Norvelle, on behalf of Dominion Energy.

The proposed change takes the route to the west of the originally designed route and effects dozens of new landowners. Dominion said they have provided ACSA with information about the changes and continue to evaluate the route.

“As part of that evaluation, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC has sent letters to landowners of 40 parcels seeking their permission to survey their properties to gather detailed information about the route variation,” Norvelle said. “Surveying and talking with landowners is the best way to get the most detailed information about a proposed route.”

Augusta County officials requested a change to Dominion’s pipeline route to avoid the Lyndhurst recharge area and to ensure private wells are not damaged by the route.

“It’s an improvement,” said Pastures District Supervisor Tracy Pyles.

Although he has not seen the proposed changes, Pyles said he heard the new route is outside of the protected water supply area.

“These pipelines can go anywhere, so why go through a protected water supply,” he asked. “It’s a wonderful thing for us, if indeed it is fully outside our recharge area.”