PEC in the News
Weekly News
Updated every week as availableIn 2011, 650-plus acres protected
Rappahannock News, January 19, 2012
"Data released this week shows that three properties in Rappahannock County totaling more than 650 acres were protected by conservation easements in 2011 – contributing to a total of more than 29,300 acres, or 24 percent of the county’s land outside of Shenandoah National Park. "
About 5,000 acres in Orange, Greene, Albemarle protected in 2011
Daily Progress, January 18, 2012
"Nearly 5,000 acres of undeveloped land in Greene, Albemarle and Orange counties in 2011 were protected by conservation easement from development, according to the Piedmont Environmental Council. In Albemarle County, 2,283 additional acres were put under easements in 2011, about 1,300 acres in Greene County and 1,300 acres of Orange County, according to Rex Linville, a land conservation officer for the council."
Fauquier conservation leaders honored for work
Fauquier Now, January 4, 2012
"The John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District recently recognized individuals who have made contributions to protecting Fauquier County’s natural resources through education and the implementation of conservation practices that protect the quality of local waters. Gina Farrar of Orlean received the Edwin Gulick Conservation Educator Award. Ms. Farrar for 27 years has hosted The Warrenton Garden Club’s Nature Camp, in cooperation with the Piedmont Environmental Council, at her farm along the Rappahannock River."
Madison Eagle, January 11, 2012
"After listening to Madison County residents’ comments, the Virginia Department of Transportation has reportedly “downsized” a proposed $4.8 million bridge on Route 231 near Aylor. Many residents who attended a Sept. 21, 2011 public hearing on the Mulatto Run Bridge received a letter dated Dec. 27, 2011 from VDOT Commissioner Gregory Whirley describing likely changes to the new bridge’s design."
Quotes PEC's Beth Burnam.
Culpeper Star-Exponent, January 12, 2012
"The Culpeper Planning Commission at last night’s meeting denied a use permit request by Recyc Systems to build a biosolids storage facility in the Elkwood area of the county. The commission’s recommendation will now go before the board of supervisors, who have the final say on the issue... Nearly all community members that spoke at the meeting voiced opposition to the proposal, with concerns including the odor of the facility, depreciating property values, battlefields in the area, truck traffic and environmental reasons primarily focused on the nearby Rappahannock River."
Quotes PEC's Brian Higgins
Farmers help conserve Hazel watershed
Rappahannock News, December 29, 2011
"The clean-up of the Chesapeake bay is an important issue in Virginia – one that often stirs up controversial debates and finger pointing rather than action. In Rappahannock and neighboring counties, however, farmers are tackling water quality problems, now, with innovative solutions... More than eight miles of riparian fencing have been installed in Rappahannock to date, along with more than five miles in Culpeper, Madison and Orange. More than 1,000 cattle have been fenced out of streams and provided with alternative sources of clean drinking water. "
By PEC's Katherine Vance
Gazette-Virginian, December 21, 2011
"...Piedmont Environmental Council President Chris Miller said his group’s initial review of the report confirms that uranium mining would be a dangerous experiment for Virginia. “The report establishes that neither the mining industry nor federal or state regulators have any experience with uranium mining or milling in climatic and hydrogeological conditions like Virginia’s. The risks of containing huge amounts of waste for thousands of years--especially in a wet climate like Virginia’s--have never been addressed,” Miller said."
Fauquier Times-Democrat, December 9, 2011
"For about four years Diana Norris worked as an associate attorney for a small law practice in The Plains. The job with Georgia Herbert’s firm, her first as an attorney after graduating from Catholic University’s law school in 2006, gave Norris the hands-on experience she wanted and a chance do some land-use related work. “I really enjoyed working with Georgia, but I decided I wanted to serve the community in a different way,” said Norris, who handled trusts and land-use issues, among other things, at the Main Street firm. "
The Downside? Only Our Air, Land, Water and Health
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, December 11, 2011
"I am writing today for one reason: Mining and milling uranium in Virginia is a bad idea. The mining and milling processes produce millions of tons of radioactive and toxic waste that has to be contained and managed for hundreds of thousands of years--and if the containment fails, there are enormous health, environmental, fiscal, and economic consequences."
By PEC President Chris Miller--one of four op-eds on uranium mining published in the Free Lance-Star, two in favor and two opposed.
Group: New report shows need to protect Virginia’s environmental resources
News Virginian, December 3, 2011
"Aside from natural beauty, Virginia’s natural assets contribute $21.8 billion to the state’s economy, according to a recent environmental report. On Wednesday, Piedmont Environmental Council released a report that attempted to quantify the value of the state’s natural goods and services in money terms, to show the need for protecting Virginia’s natural resources, said Heather Richards, PEC vice president of conservation and rural programs."
