Orange County

PEC’s Orange County office supports our land use and land conservation activities in the county. PEC is dedicated to promoting healthy communities and the preservation of Orange’s rural character, environment and historic resources.

On the Ground Updates – March 2022

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A series of short updates from around the PEC region - Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock. Albemarle & Charlottesville The Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan review process has begun. The comp plan, which guides ...
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A Potential Superfund Site?

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Last year, we told you about a developer's proposal for a 2,602-acre development across from Lake of the Woods on Rt. 3 in Orange County and next to Wilderness National Battlefield. With continued investigation, we found some unexpected and truly ...
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a man and women hold a green sign between them that says "This property is forever protected with a conservation easement"

Protecting a Historic Landscape in Orange County

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Within the nationally recognized Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District, near Barboursville in Orange County, William K. “Wik” Dove II partnered with The Piedmont Environmental Council to permanently protect his 108 acres with a conservation easement ...
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aerial photo of orange county where wilderness crossing is proposed

Wilderness Crossing developer proposes reckless path forward

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In January, the developer behind Wilderness Crossing submitted a letter to the county regarding unreclaimed mine sites on the 2,602-acre property ...
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map showing pec's 9-county region, green areas that are conserved, orange areas with new easements

Conservation in 2021 bring regional conserved land totals to 25 percent

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In 2021, private landowners partnered with various land trusts and conservation agencies to permanently protect an additional 6,474 acres of land in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties ...
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a map that show the Wilderness Crossing site in red, with at least seven former mine sites denote with pick axe symbols

Shocking news about historic gold mining contamination

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Last fall, PEC learned some important new information related to the gold mining legacy at the proposed site of the Wilderness Crossing residential development: of the five formally-named gold mines located on the property, none have been closed and cleaned ...
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two young people sitting on rocks looking at a valley of blue mountains during the summertime

Planning for the Future

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We have accomplished a lot together over the 50 years of PEC’s history. With 2022 on the horizon, we have begun work on an updated strategic plan to guide our efforts in the coming years. What will the Piedmont look ...
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aerial image of forested land next to a major road

Wilderness Crossing: New Residential Development or Potential Superfund Site?

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In November 2021, PEC learned that of the five formally-named gold mine sites located on the proposed Wilderness Crossing residential development, none of them have been closed and cleaned up - a process called “reclamation.” ...
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an aerial image of snowy mountains and fields in Rappahannock County

A Few Highlights From 2021

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Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and a global economic slowdown, 2021 proved to be a year of new opportunity here at The Piedmont Environmental Council ...
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aerial view of an open-face dirt hills of an open pit gold mining, with green/brown tinted retention ponds and construction vehicles.

Metal mining in Virginia risks public and environmental health

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Gold mining historically occurred throughout Virginia in the gold-pyrite belt, including substantial operations across the PEC region in Orange, Culpeper and Fauquier counties. Now, half a century since metals were last mined commercially, the threat has resurfaced ...
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