Mike Burcin and I am the ceo of the Lancaster County Conservancy

EIS Comments - FERC Scoping Meeting on August 4, 2014 Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC

Docket No. PF 14-8-000

My name is Mike Burcin and I am the CEO of the Lancaster County Conservancy. The Lancaster County Conservancy exists because clean air, fresh water, and wild places are vital to every Lancaster County generation.

The public preserves which would be impacted by the initial proposed primary route in southern Lancaster County, Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve and Tucquan Glen were acquired with public funds, are permanently deed restricted and open to the public for recreation 365 days a year dawn to dusk at no charge, are enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year, are some of the last remaining forested lands in Lancaster County, and are held by the Lancaster County Conservancy for the public benefit.

The initial southern route passed through the Susquehanna Riverlands or River hills. This unique part of Lancaster County along the Susquehanna River is home to one of the highest rated bird habitats, eagle nests, and hiking trails. Preservation efforts have saved thousands of acres of mature, healthy forests and watersheds.

We have been committed for the past 42 years and remain committed to creating a strong and lasting relationship between our community and the natural environment resulting in protection, conservation and education.
We are dedicated to promoting a culture where the protection and good stewardship of our natural resources are in balance with the communities they sustain while educating and inspiring current and future generations to explore, respect, and protect nature.
The Lancaster County Conservancy’s role is to protect our natural resources proactively for the benefit of our whole community. With the help of the residents and businesses in the county, we remain steadfast in our role as guardian of our land and water.

For that reason and responsibility we are present this evening to testify on behalf of clean air and clean water in Lancaster County. You may not be passionate about hiking, biking, running, fishing, hunting, bird watching, wildlife, connecting with nature, all of which may be impacted by a pipeline…but at a basic level one must be concerned about the air and water we use.

Lancaster County is a microcosm of a much larger ecosystem. What we do here effects our immediate environment. The more trees we have in our county the cleaner our air and water. Lancaster County has less than 15% forested land. We cannot afford to eliminate large stands of mature trees, clear cut, for a pipeline corridor, which will not be replaced or permitted to grow.
In 2014 the State of the Air report by the American Lung Association gave Lancaster an F for its ground level ozone. The Lancaster area is considered 33^rd worst in the nation for ozone levels.
The Riverhills contains a rugged and in some cases isolated terrain. A pipeline related accident in this region could be catastrophic. Access to the homes, families, and natural resources in this area would be a risk.
The Riverhills contains many tributaries to the Susquehanna River. Storm water runoff, sediment, erosion created by the construction of a pipeline will impact our drinking water source – the Susquehanna River – in addition to the downstream impact on the Chesapeake Bay.
I am encouraged by the opportunity to testify regarding the environmental impacts of a pipeline in the Riverhills and Lancaster County. Just as I was encouraged to see how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission moved heaven earth to protect the Riverhills in 2012 – just two years ago. This was a landmark effort … This was a collective effort of local, state, and national proportion. Pa. Fish and Boat, Mason Dixon Trail System, Keystone Trail Association, Susquehanna Greenway, The Conservation Fund, Department of Interior, Department of Environmental Protection, Chesapeake Bay Foundation,Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. I am urging FERC to not permit the devastation of this region you once protected.