fective land cover for maintenance of water quality as well . The ability of forests to aid in the filtration of water benefits our health and pocketbooks . Forest cover is directly linked to drinking water treatment costs . The more forest cover in the watershed , the lower the cost of water treatment .
Opposition to the Rockwool facility in Ransome , WV
For years , Friends has been working with many other environmental and conservation organizations , including Jefferson County Vision , to help stop the construction of the Rockwool facility in Ransome , West Virginia . The Rockwool operation will irrevocably damage the air and water quality in and around the Blue Ridge Mountains . Equally concerning is the damage it will inflict upon the many large and small businesses that depend upon the beautiful Blue Ridge environment and clean water for their success .
The facility will consume 84 tons of coal and 125,000 gallons of
water per day . It will operate two 21-story smoke stacks releasing a toxic mix of gases and 134 tons of particulate matter per year that will have a dramatic impact on the views of and from the mountains , on local weather , and most importantly , on the health of the people of Jefferson County and downwind in Loudoun County .
Despite the best efforts of Friends and the many other local , state , and national organizations , the facility has been built and is partially operational . Our collective efforts have not been in vain , however . In October 2019 , Friends partnered with West Virginians for Sustainable Development and many other conservation organizations to file a formal complaint against Rockwool with the Danish Mediation and Complaints-Handling Institution for Responsible Business Conduct ( NCP Denmark ). We have now learned that NCP Denmark has issued a draft final decision that the Rockwool facility does not comply with the international standards of Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development ( OECD ).
A formal finding of noncompliance with OECD standards is significant . OECD provides internationally recognized principles and standards for responsible business conduct globally , including environmental and social issues . While their rulings are nonbinding , they do have influence and provide a mediation platform . Rockwool will be required to submit an update to NCP Denmark one year from now informing them of steps that have been taken to rectify their deficiencies . Furthermore , a formal finding of non-compliance with OECD standards may give additional weight to the effort to have the new administration at the US EPA become involved .
Formation of the Blue Ridge Conservation Alliance
In November 2014 , Friends , working with more than 20 other conservation and public organizations organized a meeting in Front Royal at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute to launch the Blue Ridge Coalition — now renamed the Blue Ridge Conservation Alliance . The Alliance , designed to leverage the impact of diverse conservation organizations to create a Conservation Corridor on the Blue Ridge .
Loudoun Conservation Easement Program
Friends , working with a number of other land conservation organizations , was instrumental in designing and advocating for a Loudoun County program to encourage conservation easements as a pow-
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