! September!5,!2017!! Mr.!Glen!Casamassa! Associate!Deputy!Chief! United!States!Forest!Service! 1400!Independence!Ave,!SW!

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1 September5,2017 Mr.GlenCasamassa AssociateDeputyChief UnitedStatesForestService 1400IndependenceAve,SW Washington,DC20H1111 Re:$$Objection$to$Draft$Decision$(ROD)$for$Atlantic$Coast$Pipeline$Project$through$the$ George$Washington$and$Monongahela$Forests DearAssociateDeputyChiefCasamassa: WearewritingonbehalfofFriendsofShenandoahMountain(FOSM)toobjecttothe USFSdraftdecisiontoapprovetheAtlanticCoastPipeline(ACP).FOSM scommentsare focusedonthebraleypond HankeyMountainportionoftheACProuteinwestern AugustaCounty,Virginia.TheproposedACProuteisnexttoourproposedShenandoah MountainNationalScenicArea,whichhasbeenrecommendedbytheGeorgeWashington NationalForest(GWNF)Land&ResourceManagementPlan.Ourmainconcernsarethat thedraftdecision\ makesanexceptiontogwnfplanstandardsandguidelinesforconstructionofthe ACP\ basesconclusionsonafaultyandinadequateeis\and doesnotconsiderimpactsontheproposedshenandoahmountainnationalscenic Area. About$the$Proposed$Shenandoah$Mountain$National$Scenic$Area$ FriendsofShenandoahMountainisacoalitionoforganizations,businesses,andfaith groupsworkingtowardpermanentprotectionofthecentralshenandoahmountainareain thegwnf.ourgoaliscongressionaldesignationofa90,000hacretractofshenandoah MountainasaNationalScenicAreawithembeddedWilderness(see collaborativeeffortinvolvingdiverseforestusergroupsthatnowhasbroadsupportby300 organizationsandbusinesses.theshenandoahmountainareahasbeenidentifiedasa primecandidateforpermanentprotectionbecauseitissospecial.stretching72miles throughtheheartofthegwnf,shenandoahmountainhasthelargestconcentrationof roadlessareasonnationalforestlandeastofthemississippi.thismostlyunfragmented forest,whichisexceptionallyrichinbiodiversity,isalocal,regional,andnationaltreasure.

2 TheproposedSMNSAisanimportantwaterresourcebothformunicipalwaterandto supportaquaticlife.itprovidesmunicipalwaterforstauntonandharrisonburgandmany othertownsandcitiesdownstream.ithasheadwatersofthejames,shenandoahand PotomacRivers.Itscoldwaterstreamsareproductivehabitatforwildbrooktrout. ShenandoahMountainisalsoarecreationalhubforhiking,mountainbiking,fishing, hunting,camping,horsebackriding,naturestudy,andscenicdriving.itservesthemidh Atlanticregion srecreationalneeds.outdoorrecreationonshenandoahmountaindraws visitorstotheareaandsupportsthelocaltourismeconomy,asshownintable1.these figureshavebeenincreasingannually. Table$1.$$Visitor$Spending$in$2015$ AugustaCounty $117million Staunton $52million Rockingham County $198million Harrisonburg $114million HighlandCounty $17million Source:VirginiaTourismCorporation Hankey$Mountain:$Part$of$Original$SMNSA$Proposal$ ThecommentswehavesubmittedtotheForestServiceandFERChavefocusedonthe segmentoftheacpthatcrossesthegwnfinthebraleypond HankeyMountainarea whichwaspartoftheoriginalshenandoahmountainnationalscenicareaproposal submittedtothegwnfinoctober2008duringthepubliccommentperiodfortheforest planrevision(seeattachedmap).sincethen,friendsofshenandoahmountainhas modifiedourproposalboundariestoexcludethesouthernpartofhankeymountain specificallytosatisfyforeststakeholderconcernsaboutthegrousehabitatmanagement onchestnutoakknobontheflankofhankeymountain.specifically,gamemanagers wantedtoensurethatgrousemanagementthroughtimbersaleswouldcontinuetobea priorityonchestnutoakknobwhereithasbeenajointventurebetweenvirginia DepartmentofGameandInlandFisheriesandtheRuffedGrouseSocietyforseveral decades.whilethepipelinecorridordoesnotcrosscurrentsmnsaproposalboundaries, itdoescrossthroughthegrousemanagementhabitatarea,anditwouldhavesignificant negativeeffectsonscenicqualities,recreation,forestfragmentation,andwaterresources ofthesmnsa. GWNF$Plan$Recommendation$of$SMNSA$ The2014GWNFLandandResourcesManagementPlanrecommendsCongressional designationforthesmnsa:accordingtotheplan: the%purposes%of%the%shenandoah%mountain%scenic%area%are%to:% Ensure%appropriate%protection%and%preservation%of%the%area's%scenic%quality,% water%quality,%natural%characteristics,%and%water%resources=% Protect%and%manage%vegetation%to%provide%wildlife%and%fish%habitat%consistent% with%the%previously%described%purpose=% Protect%habitat%for%the%Cow%Knob%salamander=% Provide%areas%that%may%develop%characteristics%of%oldDgrowth%forests=%and%

3 Provide%a%variety%of%recreation%opportunities%that%are%consistent%with%the% preceding%purposes.% % The%Shenandoah%Mountain%National%Scenic%Area%is%well%known%for%its%scenic%overlooks% from%the%crest%of%shenandoah%mountain,%particularly%reddish%knob.%some%of%the%best% views%on%the%north%river%ranger%district%are%possible%from%the%crest%of%shenandoah% Mountain.%Shenandoah%Mountain%has%exceptional%beauty%and%outstanding%opportunities% for%solitude...%the%area%provides%clean%drinking%water=%clean%air=%and%erosion%and%flood% control%for%shenandoah%valley%residents.%it%is%a%large,%substantially%unfragmented%forest% teeming%with%wildlife%and%home%to%neodtropical%songbirds,%black%bear,%native%trout,%and%a% number%of%rare%species%including%the%cow%knob%salamander.%there%are%abundant% recreational%opportunities,%including%camping,%hiking,%mountain%biking,%horseback%riding,% fishing,%hunting,%rockclimbing,%and%birding. % % Clearly,sitingtheACPalongsidetherecommendedScenicAreaisaninappropriateplace foranewpipelinecorridor.thegwnfplandiscouragesnewutilitycorridors: When feasible,expansionofexistingcorridorsandsitesispreferabletodesignatingnewsites. WeobjecttotheGWNFplanbeingamendedtoallowthepipelinetocrossRt.,Braley Pondaccessroad.andHankeyMountain. Impacts$of$the$ACP$on$the$Proposed$SMNSA$ Scenic$impacts$ TheEISfailstoadequatelyaddressscenicintegrityimpactstotheSMNSA.Thepipeline crossingneartheintersectionofrt.andrt.715(braleypondrd)isaconcern primarilybecausert.isamajorgatewaytoscenicandrecreationalresourceson ShenandoahMountain.VisitorsformafirstimpressionoftheproposedSMNSAbasedon thevisualexperiencefromrt..a125hto175hfootwideconstructioncorridorand55h footpermanentlyhclearedcorridorwillsignificantlydegradethescenicqualityofthe southernendofthesmnsa. AccordingtotheGWNFPlan,Rt.isa ScenicCorridor (turquoiseonmap1)and GWNFlandalongthiscorridorwillbemanagedtoprotectscenicvalues: Highquality sceneryisprovidedinsensitiverecreationalandtravelwaysettings.theareavisible duringleafhoffforuptoonehhalfmilefromeithersideoftheroadtypicallydefinesthe corridor Theseareasareunsuitablefordesignationofnewutilitycorridors,utilityrightsH ofhway,orcommunicationsites Theemphasisisonprovidinghighqualitysceneryin sensitiverecreationalandtravelwaysettings. WhiletheACProuteskirtstheRt. ScenicCorridormanagementprescription,itislocatedsquarelybetweentheScenic CorridorandtheproposedSMNSA. TheDraftRODstatesthattheimpactswillnotmeettheGWNFPlan s moderate Scenic IntegrityObjectivesfortheHankeyMountainarea.TheEISdismisseslongHtermvisual effects.theacproutewouldbeclearlyvisiblefromseveralpopulartrailsintheproposed ShenandoahMountainNationalScenicArea,includingtheWildOakNationalRecreation TrailonHankeyMountain(greendotonrightonMap1)andBaldRidgeTrailinRamseys DraftWilderness(greendotonleftonMap1).Itwouldalsodegradethescenicqualityof thert.gatewaytothefollowingrecreationalresources:

4 Braley$PondRecreation$Area(fishing,picnicking,camping,biking,hiking,hunting, horsebackriding,andnaturestudyarepopularinthisarea) Dowells$Draft(popularforgrousehunting,hiking,mountainbiking,horseback riding) Hankey$Mountain(hiking,hunting,mountainbiking,horsebackriding,naturestudy) Staunton$DamandElkhorn$Lake(fishing,photography,canoeing,birding,hiking, mountainbiking,horsebackriding) Upper$North$River(hiking,horsebackriding,camping,fishing,hunting,mountain biking,naturestudy) Todd$Lake$Campground(camping,swimming,picnicking,hiking,mountainbiking) North$River$Campground(camping,fishing,hiking,mountainbiking,horseback riding,hunting) Ramseys$Draft$Wilderness,oneofVirginia smostpopularwildernessareas (hiking,backpacking,fishing,hunting,camping,birding Confederate$Breastworks(hiking,learninghistory,viewingoutstandingscenery, birding,hunting,mountainbiking Map$1.ScenicIntegrityImpactsoftheACPandAccessRoadsontheSMNSAandWild OakNationalRecreationTrail Stream$Impacts$ TheDraftRODdismisseseffectsonbrooktroutstreamscrossedbytheACPandaccess roadsandfailstodiscussimpactsonallsensitivestreams.theshenandoahmountain areaisaregionalstrongholdforwildbrooktrout.theacproutecrossesfourbrooktrout streamsinthebraleypondhhankeymountainarea(shownonmap2):

5 1. BraleyBranch 2. CalfpastureRiver 3. Dowell sdraft 4. WhiteOakDraft Constructionofthepipelinewillharmthesesensitivebrooktroutstreamsbycausing siltationandturbidity.itwouldalsoincreasestreamchannelbedandbankerosion becauseofincreasedrunoff. Map$2.ACPRoutethroughHighIntegrityWildBrookTroutHabitatintheBraleyPond HankeyMountainarea.BrookTroutstreamsarehighlightedinblue. InaSept.1,2016lettertoFERCtheForestServiceexpressedconcernaboutproject impactstowhiteoakdraftandadowell'sdrafttributarytothecalfpastureriver,both wildbrooktroutstreams.theforestservicespecificallyaskeddominion/acpto"reh evaluateitsproposedstreamcrossingsandproposedlocationsofaccessroads,while consideringforestplanstandardsandbmpsrelatingtosoilandwater."$theeisignores thisofficialrequestandcontinuestoshowtheacprouteandaccessroadscrossingthese sensitivestreams.weobjecttotheusfsignoringdominion slackofresponsetothis requestandapprovingtheprojectanyway. High$Hazard$Area$ TheForestServicehasidentifiedWhiteOakDraftasa"HighHazardArea"becauseof steepslopes(>70%)adjacenttothestream(see#4onmap2).constructionofthe pipelineacrossthisdeepravinewoulddamagethestreamandsetthestageforlandslides duringheavyrains.dominionhasfailedtorespondtotheforestservice srequestfor detailedconstructionplansonhowtheycouldsafelyandresponsiblyconstructthepipeline

6 acrosswhiteoakdraftandwhatmeasurestheywouldusetostabilizeslopesandcontrol soilerosion.weobjecttotheusfsmakingadecisiontoapprovethepipelinewithout Dominionprovidinganacceptablesitespecificslopehazardmitigationplan. $ Recreation$Impacts$ ThescenicRt.gatewayisperhapsthemostheavilyusedaccesstoprimerecreational resourceslocatedinoradjacenttotheproposedshenandoahmountainnationalscenic area(shownonmap3): campgrounds lakes picnicareas 150milesoftrails o Wild$Oak$National$Recreation$Trail o Shenandoah$Mountain$Trail(asegmentoftheGreatEasternTrail) RamseysDraftWIlderness FortEdwardJohnson(ConfederateBreastworks) TheEISfortheACPprojectdoesnotdiscussorevaluatethesepotentialimpacts,andthe DraftRODignorestheseimportantimpacts. Map$3:Rt.isaprimaryaccesstorecreationalsitesandtrailswithinorjustoutsideof thesmnsa Forest$fragmentation$impacts$ ApermanentACPcorridoracrossHankeyMountainwouldfragmentthreemilesofcore forestcausinglossof535acresofhighqualityinteriorforesthabitat.thisincludesthe widthofthe125hfootconstructioncorridorplus100metersoneachside(shownonmap 4).Accessroadswouldcauselossofanadditional124acresofcoreforest.Thisroute throughcoreforestonhankeymountainisthelongestcontinuousstretchofforest fragmentationonnationalforestlandfortheentireacp.thecoreforestonhankeyisof

7 thehighestqualitycategory,>500acres.thenewclearedcorridorandroadswouldcreate apathwayfornonnativeinvasivesthatoutcompetenativespeciesandinviteharmful predatorstomoveintotheforest"edge"andspreadintotheproposednationalscenic Area.TheEISconcludesthat forestedareaswouldexperiencesignificantimpactsasa resultoffragmentation. Giventhisconclusion,theUSFSdraftdecisiontopermittheACP setsthestageforirreparableharmtointeriorforesthabitatintegrity. TheportionoftheGWNFbetweenRt.andRt.isthelargesttractofmostly unfragmentedforestonnationalforestlandeastofthemississippi\therefore,this fragmentationwouldbeparticularlysignificant. Map$4.FragmentationandlossofcoreforesthabitatonHankeymountain Conclusion$ WeareconcernedthattheACPwoulddegradevisualqualities,recreationalopportunities, wildbrooktroutstreams,andinteriorforesthabitatandcouldevenjeopardizetheviability oftheproposednationalscenicareaforcongressionaldesignation.

8 Giventheseconcerns,FriendsofShenandoahMountainobjectstotheUSFSdraft decisiontomakeexceptionstogwnfplanrequirementsandapprovetheacp.the flawedeisdoesnotprovideasufficientbasisfortheforestservicetomakeadecisionon whethertoissueaspecialusepermitandwaiveforestservicestandardstoprotect water,oldgrowth,andscenicintegrity.thisroutepassesthroughoneofthefinestand leastfragmentednaturalareasremainingintheeasternunitedstates,anareathatis recommendedforcongressionaldesignationbytheusfsandbroadlysupportedfor protectionbythepublic.weaskthattheusfsreconsideritsdecisionanddenyaspecial usepermitfortheacp. Thankyoutheopportunitytoobject. Sincerely, LynnCameron ThomasJenkins CoHChair CoHChair 5653BeardsFordRd. 375E.WolfeSt. Mt.Crawford,VA22841 Harrisonburg,VA22802 (540)234H6273 (540)437H9000

9 Attachment:ProposedPipelineRouteandShenandoahMountain Proposed Pipeline Route and Shenandoah Mountain Dominion Pipeline Route 2/2016 Dominion Pipeline Route 10/2015 Genoa Tra il Trails unt ain Roads Streams Palos Singers Glen and oah Mo Towns and Cities Skidmore Lake Switzer Dam Proposed Wilderness Areas Sh en Proposed National Scenic Area Original Scenic Area Proposal Skidmore Fork Stultz Mill George Washington National Forest as ter n Tra il Map by: Elise Mazur James Madison University Geographic Science Lilly Hone Quarry ea Palo Alto VA Sirons Mill Little River Spring Creek Bald Ridge Todd Lake Mount Crawford Stokesville nta ou hm Centerville Staunton Dam Hankey Mountain Sh e na Mountain House Liberty Bridgewater Sangerville Ramseys Draft Wildnerness nd oa Rushville Dayton in Tra il Lynn Hollow Ottobine Gr Doe Hill Clover Hill te W.V. Reddish Knob Moscow Burketown Braley Pond Parnassus West Augusta Roman Stover Spring Hill George Washington National Forest Lone Fountain Churchville Knightly Franks Mill Damtown Verona Deerfield Elliott Knob Marble Valley Laurel Hill Christian Little Baltimore Swoope Chapin Snyder Trimbles Mill 0 1 Ü Annex Staunton 4 Jolivue 2 6 Barren Ridge 8 Miles Kidville Limitation of Liability: This data is for informationferrol and educational purposes only. It is provided "As-Is" with no guarantee, expressed or implied, regarding its accuracy or its suitability for any use. Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition accepts no liability for any loss or damage that may occur as a result of the use of this data for any purpose.