Autism?

A month goes by. My last email to Mr. Scanlan deserved no reply. Since I never leave an email unanswered, I wonder if it was delivered. I usually tell people who I correspond to, "If you don't get an email reply from me within 24 hours, at most 48 if close to a weekend, please resend your email, because I probably did not receive it."

During the last month I keep researching, and looking on the internet for more information about pipelines, this pipeline in particular, pipeline accidents, eminent domain use (and abuse, because these days, I find out, it's mostly abuse) and I wait for a reply, for a further contact from Mr. Scanlan, maybe a contact from Dominion. After all, they are behind this mess. I start referring to the pipeline  project as "this mess." First impressions count. This thing, thanks to Mr. Scanlan, started off twisted and it's getting worse. I did find out however that the project has a name: SE Pipeline.

I decide it's time to touch base with Mr. Scanlan, and ask, "What's up? No reply to my correspondence?"

"Mr. Scanlan,

Having received no reply to my last email, below, dated July 29, I am contacting you one more time, and it will be the last; I will wait for your reply until the end of business day coming Monday August 25. If I do not hear from you by then, I will start contacting Dominion directly.

I reiterate what I stated in previous correspondence:

Any and all communication with me in regards to the issue of surveying my property at the end of Channel Rd., in Mill Creek, Randolph County, WV, for the purposes of a viability study for the SE Pipeline project, must be made by dully identifiable individual(s), using proper company email(s) address(es), not public accounts / services such as Hotmail, GMAIL, Yahoo, etc. Other than that, a formal letter of introduction by Dominion, whom you say you represent, should be made available, as I have no way of identifying any person or persons and their claims of representation, and I have clearly stated that safety is a priority as far as I am concerned in these days of internet communication. 

Please kindly take note that email (faster) and "snail mail" (slower) are my only accepted forms of communication; phone communication, as explained in previous correspondence, is unfortunately not an option.

In relation to your request(s) I emphasize that NO PERMISSION has been granted or will be granted for any surveyors to enter my property until my questions have been answered and I am satisfied with clarifications and documents received; the information made available to me up to this point is considered grossly insufficient. Any and all access to my property will be considered trespassing, under relevant WV laws, until due permission is granted, in writing and signed by myself as property owner.

If I do not hear from you as per the deadline above, I will (...) contact Dominion directly to obtain the information I seek and the clarifications I need in order to proceed and then decide to grant, or not, access to my property, for the purpose of said survey.

Although I want to believe that you read all previous correspondence in full, I have no way of asserting it, because I have received no reply to questions I asked. I thus kindly suggest that you please refer to previously exchanged correspondence for the questions I asked, and more details as to what my position is in regards to this matter, and information I seek.

Sincerely,

(Signed)"

The same day, Mr. Scanlan emails back, ""You were correct Bell Timberling still owns a piece of property in the area. Sorry for any inconvenience. You should be recieving a letter from the Dominion about survey on your property. Have you given anymore thought of letting us do our survey?"

Patience has limits. I send him a one liner reply, "You ask 'Have you given anymore thought of letting us do our survey?' Did you even read my email? Please read it."

I was probably wrong. Maybe there is some mild autism hindering communication. On a second thought, I think it might be a serious case of "haughtyism" instead.

Another email comes in, "I have sent your request to my boss I should have a reply by the end of next week."

OK! Take a deep breath. Be patient. Patience rewards those who exercise it. It's an old virtue.