SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — About 300 people gathered on the campus of Shepherd University Wednesday evening for a rally against Senate Bill 390, which would bring a pipeline extension into Jefferson County.
The rally led up to a hearing held by the West Virginia Public Service Commission where nearly 80 people gave public comment.
Mountaineer Gas Company has announced they plan to invest $119.8 million for infrastructure upgrades between 2019 and 2023. About $16.3 million will be allocated to projects in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties.
The majority of those in attendance were against the pipeline citing environmental and safety issues as well as opposition against the companies that the pipeline may serve if completed including the proposed Rockwool insulation plant in Ranson.
One of the testimonies concluded with the group against the pipeline breaking out in song to the commission.
Morgan Sell of Shepherdstown told the Commission that the terrain in Jefferson County could not support the project and would be unsafe.
“My main concern is obviously with Rockwool but there’s also many other concerns with the geology and with all of the sink holes that are underneath the ground,” said Sell. “We are worried about our ground water.”
There were a few in attendance that spoke publicly in favor of the extension. Rebecca McPhail is with the West Virginia Manufacturers Association that represents companies like Rockwool and others that the pipeline could potentially service.
She said the misinformation that she heard during the hearing was “shocking”.
“I’m a little concerned and confused that people view this intense pollution that they say is going to be created,” said McPhail. “The permitting process has to adhere to a lot of stringent standards and those standards are set to be extremely conservative.”
PSC Communication Director Susan Small says the commission will now have two months before making a ruling on December 28. The public can still submit formal comments on the issue online at www.psc.state.wv.us.