How to Comment on State and Federal Permits
Public commenting is a vital part of government decision-making processes. It allows community members to give their input and voice their opinions on policies, regulations, and programs that the government is considering.
"The federal government needs to hear from members of the public when crafting rules and regulations. There's a systemic imbalance since the industries they regulate employ people with a lot of money to protect industry interests. We all need to do the same in the public's interest - the safety of our communities depends on it."
– Bill Caram, Executive Director of the Pipeline Safety Trust
Public participation is an essential step in holding regulators and project managers accountable. Throughout the history of POWHR and the movement to stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline, public commenting has allowed communities to be part of government decision-making.
A group of community members talking and smiling on a porch.
How to Comment
Find out how to submit your comments to the proper agencies
This guide is a joint project of Appalachian Voices, Virginia Pipeline Resisters, and Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights (POWHR) Coalition, with additional assistance from Indian Creek Watershed Association and Mountain Valley Watch. We will update each section with sample comments, deadlines and talking points relevant to environmental quality permits impacting communities across Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and neighboring states. Please share with grassroots environmental justice organizers in your area!
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
United State Forest Service (USFS)
Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)
A community member standing with a black and white sign that says “we rise not just for you & me, stop MVP”.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact POWHR co-director Russell Chisholm (russell@powhr.org) or Appalachian Voices organizer Jessica Sims (jessica@appvoices.org).