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Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Released in Late July, 2003
In late July the state finally released the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which was prepared by the way, by an out of state influence from Virginia at a cost of over $2 Million Dollars. After spending literally years preparing the FEIS, the state is giving the public until just September 19 to comment on it. The author even acknowledges that the FEIS was completed in the Spring.
Lesser Known FEIS Facts
 | The state paid over $2.5M over ten years to a consultant from Virginia (why not use West Virginians?) for the study. Once again, outside influences coloring the project! |
| The National Park Service (NPS), a major stakeholder, has not agreed to the FEIS. It appears the NPS wants more restrictive land and cultural resources protections that could undo on a technicality the protections in the current plan for residents. There are many examples in other areas of our great country, some noted on this web site, where technicalities, unending bureacracy, and tactics some consider harassment have been used to make folks lives seemingly unbearable to the point they have no choice but to abandon their homes and livelihoods. |
| The New River Parkway Authority has not laid out specifics of The Land Management System. That system could still be used to make it difficult for people to live in the Valley. |
| The FEIS states that the road designs may require additional land. This fact could be used in the state's favor on a technicality to "remove" additional property owners not really needed. |
| Despite the fact that the document was finished this spring and that the state spent over ten years working on it, the public is being given only about six weeks to comment - comments are due September 19, 2003. What's the rush? |
| The government has not made it clear that it is going to provide access to homeowners property from the new road. |
| The government is only compensating folks whose property is being seized for the fiscal value for their land. The land however is being taken for scenic and economic value. Why aren't they also compensated for those features? |
Comment should be addressed to:
New River Parkway, I-64 to Hinton
West Virginia Dept. of Transportation
Division of Highways
1900 Kanawha Blvd East - Building 5, Room 110
Charleston, WV 25305
Our Position on the FEIS
Given the track record of the government agencies involved in the project, it
is difficult to believe that what is put forth in black and white will not be
manipulated against us once the FEIS and Parkway plan is adopted.
Therefore, we cannot endorse the plan.
The FEIS, if it can be taken at face value, as written is a step in the right
direction as the preferred option being considered now does not overtly
propose to take more land than necessary for the road or to FORCE conservation
easements unwillingly. Does the language in it enable them to do it covertly?
We're not sure.
We are highly concerned that the National Park Service is being given such a
prominent, dominating role in the Parkway's construction and land management and believe
this is not in the best interest of the people of West Virginia. The lack
of clarity of the roles of the NPS, the lack of specifics in Land Management
System, ambiguous language in parts of the FEIS about the path of the road, the
fact that the NPS has not endorsed the FEIS yet, and the fact that some of the
relevant, non-hostile, comments on the SDEIS were not made public (or apparently
considered) as part of the FEIS leaves us with more questions than answers as to
what adoption/implementation of the FEIS really would mean.
We encourage all interested and affected individuals,
businesses, landowners, and their families, whether you believe you are
for or against the project, to contact the state at the above address and
request a copy of the plan. Review it in detail and with a skeptical eye.
Then come to the meetings and make your comments heard. This is not a time for environmental
extremists or fat cat bureaucrats to influence our
destiny.
For information about the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, which was done as part of the FEIS, click here.
