Comment Sought on Pipeline Surveys in Monongahela Forest

  Federal officials are seeking the public’s input on whether surveys for a proposed natural gas pipeline should be allowed in the Monongahela National Forest.

The proposed 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline would run through West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. Its path includes about 17 miles through the national forest in Pocahontas and Randolph counties in West Virginia.

The U.S. Forest Service says in a news release that the project’s developers are seeking a special use permit to conduct environmental surveys in the forest. The surveys would include wetlands, water, soil and habitat suitable for sensitive species.

The public comment runs through Feb. 13.

The pipeline is a joint venture between Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and AGL Resources.