Nov. 04, 2019: In our oral comments, we mention that in 2017 the state's rules for mining were radically altered to allow perpetual permits for mining, both for new operations and for modifications of existing operations. We outline concerns with the applicant and how legislative changes have led to unforeseen consequences.

Aug. 23, 2019: The Reconstruct/Fix U.S. 220 option was dismissed and not continued to the alternative phase, resulting in a situation where only fully access-controlled freeways on new alignment are being considered. According to the August 2019 VDOT video presentation, the level of access control will be evaluated and could change once the preferred alternative advances to the final design stage.

The exclusive focus on fully access-controlled freeways on new alignment at this stage of the study prejudices other alternatives, including that of fixing the existing U.S. 220 alignment using techniques being studied through VDOT's Arterial Preservation Program (APP).

Jan. 23, 2014: At the Stokes County Planning Board meeting in Danbury on Thursday night, The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) submitted testimonies opposing the re-zoning of 77 acres for industrial bioremediation, the depositing of petroleum- contaminated soil onto farm land.

BREDL Press Release | Testimony of Louis A. Zeller

Feb. 13, 2013: Therese Vick's powerpoint presentation, which was presented in Lee County, about split estates. Over time, Split Estate has come to be defined as a situation in which a property owner is not the same party who owns the rights to extract minerals from underneath the property.

Download Presentation: Powerpoint | PDF

BREDL Fact sheet: How to discover who owns the mineral rights underneath your property

July 2012: BREDL fact sheet on bioremediation (landfarming)