“My purpose in writing is to respectfully repeat this request for permission to access your property to conduct the (survey) studies,” McGuireWoods LLP attorney John D. Wilburn wrote on behalf of Dominion Transmission and Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC. “You have indicated that you would not authorize the studies, and that we and our contractors should stay off your land.

“Acting in good faith, we have honored your request,” Wilburn wrote in the letter released Tuesday. “Unfortunately, if (the pipeline) is not able to obtain your consent to the studies, we intend to file a lawsuit to secure a court order granting access.”

The warning letter is not required by state law, company spokesman Jim Norvelle said.

“Dominion has met the legal requirement of each state to give notice to landowners and could survey on their property today,” Norvelle said. “The letter is another example of how we are trying to work with the landowners so that the best route with the least impact to the environment, historic and cultural resources can be determined.”