Fellow pipeline fighter Irene Leech attended the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the Natural Gas Act hearing on February 5, 2020. With her permission, we are sharing her notes on her experience. Thank you, Irene!

I was at the hearing. I sent my comments to the record. My Montgomery Congressman, Morgan Griffith, is on the committee. He used his first 5 minutes to enter my statement into the record and to tell them I was there – affected by both pipelines. He told the industry that his constituents did not verify the good working relationship they claimed. He also told them FERC ignored the request by a group of Virginia federal elected officials for at least one more hearing. They also refused to consider the combined effect of the MVP and ACP. Griffith and Kaine have introduced similar bills that address a little of what we care about.

LaFleur did a masterful job of directly laying out the problems. She spoke only for herself. She was extremely tactful describing those opposed to her positions as genuinely viewing things differently but made clear change is needed.

Maury Johnson from WVA was invited and uninvited to speak as a landowner. There were three other affected landowners from the MVP there. I believe I was the only one from the ACP. Griffith clearly described my impact from the ACP. When Maury spoke to former chairman LaFleur she already knew we were there as landowners.

Griffith entered Karolyn Givens comments into the record with the second panel and asked the industry what can be done to incentivize industry to genuinely work with landowners – at my suggestion. The question was essentially ignored.

Hearing planners decided to displace landowners but we were there early to ensure seats (arriving around 7; at 9am we were told sitting in line outside the meeting room, not blocking any door, was considered protesting and we had to stand if we wanted to stay. They let us in at 9:50). We made sure the committee knew we were present. We shook our heads no when false things were said. We had scarves that said FERC doesn’t work but did not show them once the meeting was underway, being told that would get us thrown out – but folks saw them and pictures are on Facebook and Twitter. We also talked with staff after the hearing so we have their contact info and they have ours.

I think we made good use of our day. I did not widely share my comments but will get a copy to you. The ACP and MVP were referenced several times to point out problems with the Natural Gas Act.

We got things on the record – started the process to create change. I’m bummed we didn’t make the news – but they had a vaping hearing simultaneously along with a briefing on the coronavirus – plus State of the Union and impeachment.

P.S. Congressman Riggleman’s statement was announced as being put on the record but I have not seen/heard it.

[Note: Congressman Denver Riggleman’s statement is here.]