Dominion has admitted that they made a “clerical error” in their letters to landowners on the new alternate routes, stating that surveying would begin on March 2. Since they are required by law to notify landowners at least 15 days prior to their intended date of entry, the March 2 date was illegal. Dominion says they will be sending new notices to affected landowners with a new date. (For February 27 news coverage of the error, to which Dominion admitted only after objections from Friends of Nelson and other pipeline opponents, click here.)

The important message: You still have time to deny permission to survey – send your certified, return receipt letter as soon as possible. You don’t have to send another denial when you receive their new letter as long as your denial of permission for entry was unequivocal regarding denying entry to all parties at any time for any reason.

Several people have asked for a sample denial letter, so one is provided below (or you can click here to download a Word version ).  Please be sure to substitute the date, your parcel numbers, and your contact information in the appropriate places (in bold in the sample letter).

The Date, 2015
To Whom It May Concern
Dominion ACP
c/o Doyle Land
99 Edmiston Way, Suite 112
Buckhannon, WV 26201

Dear Sir or Madam:

We want to clearly and unequivocally state that NEITHER you NOR any of your representatives or associated companies have permission to enter our land for any reason at any time. If you or anyone enters our property, it will be considered an illegal act of trespassing and the incident will be reported to the appropriate authorities. We will pursue charges and penalties against you to the fullest extent of the law. Our property is generously marked with NO TRESPASSING and other warning signs so there can be no mistaking our intent.

Our property includes parcel numbers XXXXXX and XXXXXX.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Should you, for any reason, not understand this letter, you may contact me at your phone or your full address.

Sincerely,

Your Name