In a filing dated December 16, 2020 but made public on January 5, 2020, developers of the now canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline—Dominion Energy and Duke Energy—proposed a plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for dismantling the project.[1] The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was an $8 billion natural gas project that would have crossed West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, but was cancelled in July 2020 due to delays from legal proceedings. The plan outlines a two-year timeline for decommissioning parts of the pipeline that were nearly complete and restoring effected land. It also defines where the developers intend on clearing felled trees and where they plan to leave the area alone. The plan includes abandoning roughly 31 miles of pipe that has already been placed in the ground. The developers noted that an additional 83-mile stretch of terrain has been cleared but have no pipe laid. According to spokesperson Aaron Ruby, Dominion will not release easement agreements with landowners to use their property.[2] Land seized through eminent domain also remains in Dominion and Duke’s possession despite landowners fighting the eminent domain proceedings in court.

[1] https://atlanticcoastpipeline.com/resources/docs/public_acp%20disposition%20and%20restoration%20plan.pdf

[2]https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/01/06/stories/1063721877?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire