Atlantic Coast Pipeline Case Study

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline aims to increase availability of natural gas to the West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. However, the sustainability of the pipeline, and its potential effects on the surrounding regions has caused much controversy among citizens and various stakeholder groups. The following serves to analyze this issue from the standpoint of environmental planning and sustainability. Specifically, four groups have taken a direct stance on the pipeline based on each of the 4 objectives of sustainability. A group has evaluated the pipelines effects on livability, and taken a stance against the pipeline based on their evaluation. Livability is a characteristic of a community that encompasses many aspects of that community, …show more content…
“Good communities maintain a clean environment for their residents. Great communities enact policies to improve and protect the environment for generations to come” (AARP). The communities along the path of the pipeline are riddled with natural features that have been preserved for ecological integrity, and use by humans. In fact, some of the communities have local businesses that rely on human-environment interaction. Effected regions are frequently used by outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, photographers, fisherman, and sight-seers. These regions are home to the Appalachian Trail, various national forests, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a large portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The pipeline poses a major threat to water quality, as well as the potential for irreversible erosional damage in areas of steep …show more content…
Identification of objectives is clearly outlined, while uncertainties and concerns do not seem to be included. Analysis of planning situation is what occurred behind the scenes to initially propose routes and deal with conflict resolution. The issue with Dominions analysis is that they decided to move forward with planning even though there are many stakeholders who still have conflict yet to be resolved. That is a question of ethics and is beyond the scope of this work. Formulation of alternatives either did not occur in their planning process, or it is not featured clearly in their website. The plan seems to be that failure is not an option. Assessment of impacts has occurred, but in their fact sheet they claim that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline will help the environment (Dominion). Whether that is true or not is subject to interpretation. Evaluation and selection of the plan has been completed, but it lacks in advocacy. Dominions website shows a handful of videos in which landowners accept the pipeline on their property. Part of their plan is called landowner involvement (Dominion). Much like with the environmental aspect, they can fabricate the website to show whatever seems like the right information to show. Ultimately the company still has the power to seize land for the use of the pipeline despite any legal objection from a property