On the sunny Friday of June 20, 2014 my chauffeur, Sandra Osborn of Valley Head, WV, drove us along the Dominion SE-Pipeline proposed route to educate the public. 

​We traveled​ along US Rt 250 from Randolph County through Pocahontas County in WV, through Huttonsville, Durbin, Frank, Bartow, then south on Rt 28 / 92 through Boyer, Arbovale, Green Bank, Cass  and Linwood.

Driving on the designated National Scenic Byway, the Staunton-Petersburg Turnpike, the original Buffalo – Indian trail, we passed through the Cheat Cooperative Wild Life Management, the Tygart Valley Conservation District, the Gardineer Scenic Area, the Little River Cooperative Wild Life Management and the Greenbrier Watershed Area. We passed the Civil War sites Ft. Milroy and Camp Bartow.
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This was the first public outreach on Dominion’s proposed pipelines. There had been nothing printed in the local paper since the initial press release three weeks previously.

Our goal was to talk and share with local residents most affected by this 42″ transmission pipeline. We handed out fliers from the Wetzel County Action Group. Ed Wade Jr.​’s display of photos of the permanent pipeline destruction in his area were upsetting to everyone who saw them. His photos show rivers blown up with dynamite, bulldozed to ruin, sediment filled murky waters and mountain sides permanently scared with industrial development.

We stopped and spoke to any person lucky enough to be outside when we drove by. We met and shared with people at every open business establishment including​ gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants​, auto repair, libraries, post offices ​and ​tourist bureaus. It was a very fun, rewarding and exhausting day. 

People were generally in shock with our news and grateful for ​our efforts.​ Some had heard “rumors” but most had no idea what we were talking about. Many people were angry realizing what Dominion ​is planning ​parallel to their homes and businesses without their knowledge. All day only three people thought it was a ​good ​idea ​for progress – three.

Every one we spoke with​ ​was disgusted that the official Dominion maps were out of focus. I explained that the official WV Dominion spokesperson from Clarksburg, Robert Orborff had made it clear to me that they were fuzzy on purpose, as to not cause fear. The useless maps were not appreciated by the educated populace of WV who regularly use detailed topographic maps for hunting, fishing, and hiking.

It took us eleven hours to make the loop ​from Huttonsville to Linwood ​and the last conversation was the most amazing of all.

LAST CONVERSATION

In pouring rain at 8:30 PM, turning onto my rural road, we came across an obviously lost soul extremely frustrated with no chance of cell phone assistance. He had been circling the dark wet mountain roadway for an hour having mixed up his rights and lefts.

After giving him perfect directions to Silver Creek and the motorcross event at Snowshoe, I shared that this was the ending of a very long and interesting day spreading the word about a pipeline planned for this area. 

“Here?” he exclaimed, “Here in the wilderness?” “I’ve worked for Dominion for five years building sub-stations. I hope you win.”

CONTACT: Lauren Ragland 304-339-2598
CONTACT : Ed Wade Jr.  304-775-5046