20140957 Ver 2_Public Notice Comments_20170803 (39)

Strickland, Bev
From:CenturyLink Customer <[e-mail]>
Sent:Thursday, August 03, 2017 10:53 PM
To:SVC_DENR.publiccomments
Subject:ACP
Attachments:401 Water Quality ACP.docx
Attached are my comments regarding the 401 Water Quality Certification application submitted to DWR.
Thank you,
Teresa Rhodes
1

401 Water Quality

Clean water is our most valuable resource. We cannot live without water. Our animals, wildlife and our
crops depend on water. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will cross over 300 bodies of water and 6 major
rivers in North Carolina. I am deeply concerned about the impact this will have on our water quality and
quantity in the future.
Natural gas pipelines leak methane gas and this will seep into these bodies of water causing pollution as
well as leaking into groundwater and contaminating wells. Building the pipeline will destroy natural
habitats of wildlife and even can potentially kill aquatic life. We need to protect our water resources.
Construction in the Neuse River which runs behind my home can cause sedimentation. Drilling through
the Neuse River can cause the aquatic life to be killed due to decreased oxygen levels in the water and
the increased sedimentation can cause our water treatment plants to work even harder to keep the
water clean for residents.
There are swamps and wetlands that are in my community as well as other communities that will be
crossed and the pipeline will cause pollution, change the environment as well affecting the wildlife
habitat. We live in an area called the “lowgrounds” and have enjoyed seeing different species of wildlife
as well as plants that will be destroyed or decreased by the construction of this pipeline.
Flooding in these low lying areas is very real. We have had two “100” years floods in the past 10 years
with the last one when Hurricaine Matthew came in October, 2016. The Neuse River supplies water for
many municipalities and counties. Drilling and construction can decrease the quality of the water as well
as the quantity.
Methane gas leakage into the water can cause pollution as well as methane gas leaks into the air.
Methane gas is a greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Methane gas is much more potent than
carbon dioxide and stays in the atmosphere 9-15 years. We also need to protect our air quality.
Timberland cleared for this pipeline will cause erosion and the timber will never be able to be replanted.
Wildlife will have to find elsewhere to live. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will cause numerous
environmental problems in our state; much more than the benefits. Safety is also a very major concern
with explosions and damage to property and life.
Please protect our water, environment and air quality. We, our children, our grandchildren and
generations to come are depending on the DWR to provide us with an environmentally safe state.
Thank You,
Teresa Rhodes
Four Oaks, NC