According to documentation from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) the State Air Pollution Control Board, after meetings held Thursday and Friday, voted to defer action in regards to the Buckingham Compressor Station until Dec. 10.

The 53,783-horsepower compressor station would be located off Route 56, and would be connected with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), which is expected to span 600 miles, crossing Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties.

Gregory Bilyeu, director of communications with DEQ, confirmed the vote by the members of the board. He said the vote was unanimous.

The decision came after two meetings held about the permit.

According to the tentative agenda for the meetings on the Virginia DEQ website, Michael Dowd, director of the Air and Renewable Energy Division, is expected to give a “summary of comment presentation and opportunity for those who commented at the public hearing or during the public comment period to respond to the summary of the public comment period presented to the Board.”

The air quality permit and engineering analysis from the State Air Pollution Control Board is in reference to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) compressor station, proposed to be located off Route 56 in Buckingham.

The air permit for the compressor station is considered a minor New Source Review (NSR) air permit, a title designated for facilities where uncontrolled emissions of equipment and process units are above exemption levels detailed by the DEQ.

The final draft permit, the permit engineering analysis, the air quality analyses review, the public participation reports, a full written copy of the spoken comments given during the Sept. 11 public hearing at Buckingham County Middle School and responses to public comments can be found at the DEQ website. According to a previous Herald report, approximately 85 signed up to speak with 81 speaking at the Sept. 11 meeting in total.

According to the summary and responses to public comments document, more than 3,800 emails were submitted during the public comment period given by DEQ between Aug. 8 and Sept. 11.

“One email included a spreadsheet containing over 1,100 individual names and associated comments,” the summary cited.

The DEQ also received more than 500 written comments via postal mail.

The permit included 51 requirements for the compressor station, including that the operations practice proper emission controls, that equipment be installed with the proper monitoring devices, that the appropriate fuel be used and regulated, that the emissions fall within the necessary limits and be properly tested and evaluated.

The Buckingham compressor station will be the only compressor station in Virginia used by the ACP.

This hearing comes after the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s (ACP) erosion and sediment control plans and stormwater management plan Oct. 19, according to a news release from the DEQ and ACP.

“These detailed protection plans specify engineering designs that will protect water quality during and after pipeline construction along the 300-mile project that stretches from Highland County to Greensville County,” the release from DEQ cited.