Lawsuits dismissed; Dominion allowed to survey for pipeline

By Lynn R. Mitchell

A federal judge has dismissed two lawsuits that aimed to block the Atlantic Coast Pipeline from surveying private property without the landowners’ permission.

In a pair of opinions issued late Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon dismissed suits filed by landowners in Nelson and Augusta counties that challenged a 2004 state law giving natural gas companies the right to enter private property without landowner permission to survey proposed pipeline routes.

Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

 

Joel Salatin, Augusta County’s self-proclaimed heretic farmer

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Washington Post’s Andrew Jenner asks the question many who know local farmer Joel Salatin have asked: How can he appeal to the left, right, and middle in his sustainable farming endeavors (see How America’s most famous farmer can appeal to left, right, and center)?

Joel, who lives in Augusta County southwest of Staunton on his Polyface Farm, has built a reputation on his practice of farming and raising livestock without pesticides or other invasive methods freely used in today’s agriculture. He is known far and wide because of his lectures, books, and news articles such as this one in the Washington Post that have introduced him to those looking for a cleaner way to raise their food.

Somehow along the way Joel has garnered the attention of those on all sides of the political aisle:

Dominion Virginia Power pipeline in Augusta County

By David Karaffa
Supervisor, Beverley Manor District, Augusta County

On August 13th at the Board of Supervisors regular meeting, we had representatives from Dominion Virginia Power come and give a presentation about their proposed underground natural gas pipeline that will transect Augusta County. There were over 350 citizens in attendance at the meeting.

First, I would like to say thank you to Dominion and to all of those that showed up for the meeting. All of the information and input was helpful to better understanding the proposal, answer some very important questions, and allow for our citizens to express their concerns about the project.