Whose Health Would Be Affected By the Proposed Swann Compressor Station on the MVP?

The parcel purchased by MVP LLC in 2021 in Elliston, VA, across from Rowe Furniture.

Following the recent announcement of the proposed Swann Compressor Station, Crystal Mello and Seferina Olivo, both members of the 2022 Virginia Tech Lafayette Household Study research team are reflecting on their experiences and revisiting the findings.

The door-to-door study, conducted by community members in partnership with the Appalachian Studies Program at Virginia Tech, identified residents in a one-mile radius of the Lafayette-Elliston border in Montgomery County, VA. Researchers designed a survey instrument and interviewed community members. Responses gathered from approximately every other home confirmed that the area should qualify as an overburdened environmental community as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Almost 60% of respondents who shared income information are low-income (under $52,216)-- double what would qualify as a low-income community according to Virginia code. Moreover, one in five households reported a resident of color. 41% of households reported pre-existing health conditions, 25% of households reported a disabled resident, and 41% reported residents who are children or elderly, all of whom are more susceptible to negative health effects of air or noise pollution.

The findings shed light on the community that would be directly impacted by the proposed compressor station, offering insight into how increased pressure and volume from the MVP Boost project could bring greater pollution risks and safety concerns.

In coverage by the News Messenger, VT researcher Emily Satterwhite stated “The goal was not just to collect data but listen to people; the good and the wishes [for change].” To learn more about the Lafayette household survey, visit VT Appalachian Studies. To learn more about the potential health effects of compressor stations, see “Monitoring of Natural Gas Compressor Stations Underestimates Health Risks to Nearby Communities.”

Crystal Mello, a Community Researcher for the study and POWHR Community Organizer, shared :

“I've lived in Eastern Montgomery County longer than I have ever lived anywhere in my life, for almost half my life now. This place is special and unique. As you drive down the straight away, you can feel the mountains hug you. Proud, hard working and giving folks reside here. The type that had to work as the country shut down for Covid. The folks that kept this country open. Essential workers they called us. The part of Montgomery County that has lost two banks, a pharmacy for many years, car wash, laundry mat and public transportation over 20 years. The place many feel overlooked. Some of the great things we do have are the Roanoke River, Stiles Falls, Tomato Festivals, clean air and water.

When asked if I could help with this study, I jumped on it! What better way to meet new neighbors? Who are my neighbors? To really learn how folks are doing post Covid. My first interview was with a married couple. The husband gave me a Cougar wanted poster. It's still hanging on my fridge today. My son and I had heard what we thought and what google said (lol) was a Cougar just nights before. Of course most folks said there's no way we heard a Cougar. Speaking with this man made me feel heard. We were in on the local “folklore.” As the days, weeks and months rolled on, so did we, meeting so many neat people and hearing all kinds of stories. The interview was only supposed to take about 15 minutes but many times it would take an hour. There's a vibe around here that folks just want to be left alone. I found that mostly to not be true. They want to be heard as we all do. They deserve to be heard.

I have watched MVP come in and take advantage of a town that believed they had no choice. No voice. I will always stand ten toes down for this small piece of paradise and I hope others will as MVP attempts to make an encore. A compressor station is not wanted or needed and I'll carry those voices with me. Those collective voices are now a love song embedded in my heart and soul filling me with strength. Can YOU hear it?”

Seferina Olivo, an Undergraduate Research Assistant for the study and Mountain Valley Watch Coordinator, shared this reflection from the door-to-door survey:

“When given the opportunity to speak on what they love about their community and home, so many folks said how beautiful EastMont is; that there was a beauty and peace not found anywhere else. The pride that people had for where they lived was undeniable.

We also gave them the opportunity to share what they were worried about or felt was a threat to their community. Many people cited the opioid crisis affecting their neighbors or the lack of resources within the area. It was clear to me that people were worried about what was right in front of them. At first I was frustrated that people weren’t naming MVP because it felt like the obvious thing to be worried about. People’s concerns were grounded in what they could see and feel right now, their neighbor in distress or the anxiety of not having enough, rather than in potential future dangers like the MVP pipeline or a compressor station. This focus on the present is understandable and it gave me a better perspective going through the rest of the project, yet it can allow emerging, longer-term threats to grow, leaving the community feeling blindsided when the impacts finally surface. ”

During the study, we heard from community members about their lack of access to fresh produce. The EastMont area is what you would call a food desert. We had dreamed of creating a community garden for many years, and study responses were the push to make this dream a reality. The garden is located on Big Spring Drive in Elliston, close to the now closed Big Spring Mill. We donate produce to Dales Food Pantry, the free fridge at Meadowbrook Library, and to gas station and Dollar General parking lots. We welcome community members to come help take care of the garden and harvest what they want. So far this year we have donated close to 1000 lbs of produce!

Eastmont Community Garden in Elliston, VA.

Community members plant and take care of the garden. We host weekly garden care days on Wednesdays from 6-8PM and Saturdays from 9AM-Noon. Come join us and meet new neighbors! No prior gardening experience required and everyone can do something.

In response to the compressor station announcement, community members are gathering for an information session on Thursday, August 21st at 5:30pm to discuss what this means for our community and how we can help decide what happens.

The interest form for the meeting can be found at http://bit.ly/boostmeet. For more information, please contact Crystal Mello at crystal@powhr.org.