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Environment and Outdoors

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First look at Roanoke’s 2022 GO Fest

Published August 10, 2022 | By Emma Thomas

Roanoke’s GO Fest will be Downtown this October, and organizers are proud to announce a new partnership that aims to connect more people with Roanoke’s outdoor spaces. Organizers say that this year’s festival will mix new attractions with old favorites. WFIR’s Emma Thomas with more:

 

Rasoul, Edwards urge feds to deny pipeline construction extension

Published July 29, 2022 | By Evan Jones

MGN

Two Roanoke state lawmakers are among 27 legislators calling upon federal regulators to deny a request from Mountain Valley Pipeline to extend its  certificate another four years. Delegate Sam Rasoul and Senator John Edwards say the pipeline has already caused immense harm and should not be allowed to continue. The current certificate expires in October of this year. MVP  initially expected to be fully operational in 2018, but the project has been subject to staunch opposition and repeated court rulings overturning federally-issued permits.  Pipeline supporters say continued delays serve only to make any construction-related environmental impacts even worse.

NEWS RELEASE: ROANOKE, VA – On behalf of their constituents, and members of the public who would be adversely impacted by continued harms from the Mountain Valley Pipeline, Delegate Sam Rasoul and Senator John Edwards led a coalition of 27 state legislators calling for denial of Mountain Valley Pipeline’s request to extend their certificate with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commision [sic] (FERC) by an additional 4 years.

The letter states “For years, we have heard from residents and constituents about the real and significant harm the MVP has inflicted on their local streams and rivers, property, drinking water, and quality of life.”
The current certificate expires in October 2022. MVP’s request would triple the amount of time originally approved by FERC. “This pipeline has continued to cause immense harm and to extend this certificate is to say that continuing to cause more damage is acceptable. FERC needs to deny this extension and protect those living along its path,” said Rasoul.

 

Plans, funding in place for kayak park in Roanoke River

Published June 30, 2022 | By Evan Jones

The Roanoke area’s draw as an outdoor recreation site will get another boost several years from now — a kayak park in the Roanoke River. The project will create man-made rapids in the river near Wasena Park. $2 million in federal funding will pay for the project which must begin construction by 2024 and be completed by 2026. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:

Click here for full kayak park information.

Rain Barrel Workshop next week already filled

Published June 22, 2022 | By Camden Lazenby

Graphic taken from Clean Valley Council’s Facebook page.

Next week, some Roanoke residents will learn how to collect rain water to help save on their utility bill while also helping the local environment. WFIR’s Camden Lazenby has more.

The workshop has already filled up but the Clean Valley Council has a waitlist for future events. Click here to add your name to the waitlist.

 

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