Virginia Board Approves More Air Pollution in Minority Community

WASHINGTON -- After twice delaying action to gather more demographic information, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board today voted to approve an air pollution permit that Dominion Energy needs to build a gas compressor station in the African American community of Union Hill for its proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. 

Walton Shepherd, Virginia Policy Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, made this comment:

“Today’s callous decision approving Dominion’s compressor station is a strike against clean air and environmental justice in Union Hill. It sends Virginia backwards, helping a wealthy corporation emit toxic air pollution in a vulnerable community. The Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Board should have protected Union Hill – and all Virginians –from harm.

“Now the State Corporation Commission must do its job and reject Dominion’s attempt to charge Virginians billions of dollars for its over-priced and unneeded Atlantic Coast pipeline, should this beleaguered project ever proceed.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC