Appalachian Gas Working Group October 24, 2017 Office of the Governor State Capitol, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E Charleston, WV 25305 Governor Justice: We, the undersigned organizations, write concerning the Section 401 Water Quality Certification applications for the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines, currently under review. As you know, the WV Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with protecting human health and the environment, and the economy that relies on access to clean, safe water. According to WVDEP’s 401 application requirements, “In order for the WVDEP to issue a Section 401 Certification, the project must comply with the State Water Quality Standards (§47CSR2) and not potentially result in an adverse long-term or short-term impact on water quality.” West Virginians are counting on you to oversee WVDEP’s thorough review of these massive projects to assure water quality will not be degraded. Though the two newly-appointed commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the certificates for the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines, states still have the authority and critical role under the Clean Water Act to ensure that these projects will not violate water quality standards. The dissent by Commissioner LaFleur shows an awareness of the need to balance these projects’ collective environmental impact with business interests to keep our water safe for human consumption and future economic development. Both of these pipelines are proposed to be built over delicate caves, karst terrain, and groundwater systems. They will cross through state and federal public lands. Combined, the two projects will impact over 1,000 streams in West Virginia. The routes of both pipelines will require extensive construction on steep slopes in highly erodible soils that are likely to cause severe runoff and siltation into streams affecting aquatic life. For these reasons, we are relying on your leadership to direct WVDEP to apply ample resources for the agency to do its due diligence to protect our water through these crucial 401 certification reviews and to include all needed provisions in their 401 Certification that assure water quality protection. West Virginia’s $5 billion tourism industry and the health of the state’s citizens depend on clean water. It is your duty and responsibility to keep it that way. Signed, Natalie Thompson Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition Cindy Ellis West Virginia Highlands Conservancy CC: Secretary Austin Caperton Appalachian Gas Working Group Judy Azulay Indian Creek Watershed Association April Keating Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance Justin Raines West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club Angie Rosser West Virginia Rivers Coalition Julie Archer West Virginia Surface Owners’ Rights Organization Gary Zuckett West Virginia Citizens Action Group John Walkup III Greenbrier River Watershed Association Dr. Stephen Miller Save Monroe Laura Steepleton Eastern Panhandle Protectors Maury Johnson Preserve Monroe Allen Johnson Christians for the Mountains Beth Little Eight Rivers Council Wayne Woods Doddridge County Watershed Association Johnathan Rosenbaum League of Women Voters of West Virginia Laurie Ardison Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights CC: Secretary Austin Caperton Appalachian Gas Working Group Brandon Richardson Headwaters Defense Peter Anderson Appalachian Voices Carolyn Reilly Bold Alliance CC: Secretary Austin Caperton