Residents urge presentation of Virginia Tech study as board reviews Swan Compressor Station concerns

Several residents urged the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors to allow a Virginia Tech research team to present findings on Eastmont/Elliston vulnerability ahead of any further decisions about the proposed Swan Compressor Station.

"I'm asking today that you allow Doctor Bell and the researchers at Virginia Tech to formally present their study," said Gwyneth Homer (speaker 15), referencing a door-to-door demographic study she said would document health and economic conditions. Joshua Vanna (speaker 17) echoed the request and called the Swan site an environmental-justice community, asking the board to reconsider site suitability or to reiterate concerns to federal agencies reviewing MVP's filings.

Other commenters who have engaged on Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) matters told the board they remained skeptical of MVP's repeated proposals and urged transparency, with one resident urging the board to refuse nondisclosure agreements with outside companies to keep deliberations open. Several speakers specifically thanked the board for rejecting recent MVP submissions as inadequate.

Board members did not make a final determination to host the Virginia Tech team at this meeting; staff and supervisors noted the request and indicated it could be scheduled for a formal presentation at a later date. Residents said a formal presentation would both inform the board's deliberations and recognize community experiences, while several supervisors emphasized the board's earlier actions rejecting inadequate MVP filings.

What’s next: residents requested the research team be invited to present; staff and the board indicated they would consider that scheduling and next steps.