Monday, June 18, 2018 at 2:00 pm

Location: Wasena Park, Roanoke, VA

(near Vic Thomas Greenway bridge by the Roanoke River)

Citizen observers for the Mountain Valley Watch program have documented and reported as many as 20 erosion control violations to the Department of Environmental Quality since mid-April 2018. But, DEQ has not issued any violation notices or warnings to the contractor or MVP LLC.  The number and severity of problems requires an immediate investigation into the reported violations, yet DEQ officials denied the existence of violations and problems during a recent court hearing in Roanoke. Residents are concerned that DEQ is not fulfilling its responsibility to correct and enforce serious violations of state laws.

Groups also urge the State Water Control Board to immediately hold a meeting to determine the adequacy of the Army Corps’ Nationwide Permit 12 to protect the Blue Ridge region’s rivers, streams, and drinking water.  The board is currently scheduled to meet August 21 to consider the adequacy of the federal permit. The groups say that in light of the ongoing problems and the daily, direct harm to state waters from pipeline construction activities, a decision on the permit cannot wait until late August.

Speakers include:

• Delegate Sam Rasoul
• Russell Chisholm, Preserve Giles
• Cynthia Munley Preserve Salem
• Dr. Tina Smusz, MD, MPH, health educator
• Mary Beth Coffey, landowner
• Jason Shelton, Mountain Valley Watch