Editor:

Recently published in this paper, an author stated that “…building the pipeline would shatter the environment and the completed pipeline would place all of us at unnecessary risk (“Defending Buckingham against Dominion’s pipeline,” Oct. 2).”

The facts, however, are that that natural gas pipelines have a remarkable safety record.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, which regulates pipelines, states they are not only “one of the safest” methods, but “one of the most cost-effective means to transport the extraordinary volumes of natural gas.”

Pipelines have existed in Virginia since 1960, nearly unnoticed, yet never underwent the safety measures and regulations in place today. These measures include construction and environmental standards set by nearly 40 national and state regulators, required advanced pipeline coatings for corrosion, the use of clean fill, monthly aerial inspections, frequent foot-patrol inspections, internal computerized pipeline inspection with “smart pigs” and around-the-clock monitoring.

Modern compressor stations too have safety features, including automatic pressure-relief valves, an emergency shutdown system, natural gas detection devices and 24/7 monitoring. The Buckingham compressor station will hire full-time professionals to work at the compressor station, creating jobs in Buckingham. The pipeline, throughout the route, will produce 2,200 jobs.

Already 60 public meetings have occurred and more hearings will be part of the permitting process of this project. The Community Advisory Group meetings Dominion have established are in addition to and not instead of public meetings. I look forward to seeing Buckingham concerned citizens at the public meetings as I did last spring to get the facts of this project, not myths read in this paper.

David Patton

Dillwyn