Residents voice concerns at Atlantic Coast Pipeline meeting in Elkins

A controversial issue that's been going on in our area for sometime now involves the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The pipeline is a 600-mile long natural gas line that will go through Harrison, Lewis, Upshur, Randolph and Pocahontas counties. Wednesday night, many got to voice their thoughts on the project.

Ever since this has been brought about many have been concerned about the pipeline and its impact on water, safety and property owner's rights. Wednesday's meeting was designed to hear comments and concerns from folks in Randolph county. Many citizens were there voicing their concerns about the environment and the natural water ways of Elkins

"The destruction of the underground karsts, the springs, the water table. The steepness of the pipe. It's a 42 inch pressure pipeline. Elkins Spring is going to be in the evacuation zone and the blasting zone. It's taking out a lot of our friends cabins and homesteads. Just mass destruction to an area and the watershed. Just destroying the underground water tables," said Daron Dean, of the Elkins Spring Resort.

A Dominion representative at the meeting says the pipeline is a good idea.

"The environmental impact study has indicated from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that these problems to the pipeline are minimal to the point where it really doesn't expose any real environment significant impact," explained Bob Fulton.

These meetings will continue until April 6th.