According to a DEQ official, about 100 people had signed up to speak by the start of the meeting.

About 10 people who spoke during the hearing were from Nelson County or specifically said they have ties to the county. All said they oppose the pipeline.

“I am very concerned that the proposed ACP could cause untold damage to the surface waters and ground waters not only directly along the proposed route but also far from it,” Afton resident Eleanor Amidon said.

Susan Hastings, of Afton, said she doesn’t believe plans offered by Dominion to “mitigate” effects on water quality will do enough to ensure safety for residents and wildlife.

“Mitigation is no guarantee,” she said. “Prevention is the only guarantee.”

Before the hearing, Nellysford resident Richard Averitt said while he has lost faith in some aspects of the regulatory process, specifically saying he has “no reason to believe the [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] will do anything but approve” the pipeline, he thinks DEQ is the agency that could help address residents’ concerns.