Monthly Archives: February 2014

Lowndes County Commission Meeting and Protest

Protesting begins at 5:00 pm and the meeting will start at 5:30, Tuesday 11 February 2014. Residents can speak out during the “citizens wishing to be heard” section.

Sign up on the facebook event or come as you are.

Lowndes County Board of Commissioners 327 N. Ashley St – Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor Administration Building Valdosta, GA. Here’s the agenda.

And what has the county attorney been discussing about the Sabal Trail pipeline?

-jsq

Even many FPL allies oppose new methane pipelines

FPL and Spectra could lose, because many organizations and individuals don’t want dirty methane pipelines when we can go straight to conservation, efficiency, and solar and wind power.

Kevin Spear wrote for the Orlando Sentinel 19 January 2014 Pipeline to bring natural gas to state,

Florida Power & Light Co. is on the cusp of getting the pipeline it has long wanted to carry natural gas from elsewhere in the nation to Central and South Florida to run the utility’s power plants.

But the proposed $3.6 billion project, which FPL hopes to start using in 2017, has drawn mixed responses from even groups that are usually allies.

Among them, Audubon Florida lauds natural gas as cleaner than coal when burned by power plants, while Sierra Club Florida opposes the line as likely to ensure that the state becomes further addicted to the fuel at the expense of developing solar power.

Other negative reactions include:

  • Contention by many environmentalists that the use of natural gas on the whole — from drilling to consuming — is as damaging to the environment as the use of coal.
  • Concerns that the route of the proposed pipeline is potentially harmful to Florida wetlands and aquifers.
  • Criticism from some environmental groups that Continue reading Even many FPL allies oppose new methane pipelines

Colquitt County Commission on Sabal Trail pipeline today and tomorrow

Colquitt County is actively investigating legal options about the methane pipeline Spectra Energy wants to gouge through here. Other county attorneys could be as active.

Alan Mauldin wrote for The Moultrie Observer 8 February 2014, County commission meetings to focus on Sabal Trail pipeline,

Colquitt County Commission will receive updates Monday and Tuesday on a proposed natural gas pipeline that could pass through the county.

County Attorney Lester Castellow, who reently met with his counterparts from Brooks, Doughterty and Lowndes counties, is scheduled to address commissioners about the project during a Monday afternoon commission work session.

And representatives of Sabal Trail, the company that is building an Alabama-to-Florida gas pipeline will address commissoiners at Tuesday night’s commission meeting.

“Basically we’re going to be discussing what a local govermnent can and cannot do relative to the planning and construction of an interstate gas pipeline,” Castellow said during a Friday telephone interview.

It’s on the agenda for the 12 noon Monday 10 February 2014 Work Session:

3. Lester Castellow, County Attorney – Potential Options for Sabal Trail Natural Gas Pipeline

That’s at Room 261-C, Courthouse Annex, 101 East Central Avenue, Moultrie, GA 31768.

Colquitt County’s calendar doesn’t say when the Tuesday 11 February Regular Session will be, but the previous one was at 7PM. Presumably the Regular Session will have an agenda similar to the Work Session.

The newspaper story concludes: Continue reading Colquitt County Commission on Sabal Trail pipeline today and tomorrow

Farmer and lower income folks are people –James & Tracy Ryder to FERC

Filed with FERC 2 December 2013:

James & Tracy Ryder, Tallahassee, FL.

Sirs:

We have been contacted by Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC regarding their proposed natural gas pipeline. In their contacts with us, they requested permission to survey our property in reference to one of the proposed corridors since we are already encumbered with the SONAT pipeline that run through the middle of our property. We were told that we should sign the consent because they would use eminent domain to access our property against our will if need be. In a public meeting we were told they were putting in a 24″ line that would provide gas to mid and south Florida. We have later learned that they are intending to put in a 36″ line that would not serve Florida, but would provide for exports from Florida. Sabal Trail has not been providing accurate, or clear information to the public regarding these pipeline endeavors. When we asked about alternate corridors, we were told they would not consider the alternate corridor that was originally proposed due to the fact that there were many people impacted.

Seriously, Brooks County may be the home to many a farmer and lower income folks, but I assure they are people and don’t deserve to be exploited for the potential gains in revenue and exportation of our limited natural resources. Continue reading Farmer and lower income folks are people –James & Tracy Ryder to FERC

Dates and locations have not changed –Sabal Trail Transmission

Sabal Trail did all that was strictly required by FERC, so quit your whining, basically. The only new information is the list of newspapers STT used for advertising. People didn’t quit complaining, so later STT added a makeup meeting in Moultrie.

Filed with FERC 2 December 2013, Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC submits its Response to Comments Seeking Open House Meeting Information for the Sabal Trail Project under Docket No. PF14-1.

Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC 2701 N. Rocky Point Drive, Suit 1050 Tampa, FL

December 2, 2013

Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426

Re: Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC
Sabal Trail Project, Docket No. PF14-1-000
Response to Comments Seeking Open House Meeting Information

Dear Ms. Bose: Continue reading Dates and locations have not changed –Sabal Trail Transmission

The outreach programs to date have been ineffectual –Carol Singletary

Filed with FERC 12 December 2013:

November 18, 2013
4871 Gary Lane
Valdosta, GA 31601

P. Martin Teague

Associate General Counsel
Sabal Trail Transmissions, LLC
2701 North Rocky Point Dr.
Suite 1050
Tampa, FL 33607

Dear Mr. Teague,

I would like to thank you for the time you spent with me this morning regarding my concerns about the proposed natural gas pipeline FERC docket filing PF14-1.

The information that I am requesting is as follows:

Continue reading The outreach programs to date have been ineffectual –Carol Singletary

I adamantly oppose this proposed pipeline –Thomas Lovett to FERC

Filed with FERC 1 December 2013:

Thomas Lovett, Quitman, GA.
December 1, 2013

Thomas D. Lovett
250 Monument Church Road
Quitman, GA 31643

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20426

Re: FERC Docket No. PF-14-1

Dear FERC,

As a Brooks County, Georgia landowner who would be directly affected by Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC’s proposed pipeline, I adamantly oppose this proposed pipeline, for the reasons stated below.

The 36-inch pipeline/easement would cut a path approximately 5,480 feet long and 100 feet wide across our family farm, located at 250 Monument Church Road, Quitman, Georgia, 31643. Our family farm has been continuously owned by my family for more than 100 years. I live on the farm with my wife and two boys.

The pipeline, if allowed, would be approximately 680 feet directly behind our residence. It would be approximately 790 feet from nearby Morning Star Church Continue reading I adamantly oppose this proposed pipeline –Thomas Lovett to FERC

Any entry onto either of these two properties will be deemed a trespass –Sandra Jones to FERC

Filed with FERC 30 November 2013:

Sandra Jones, Moultrie, GA.
Sandra G. Yarbrough Jones
2056 Dunn Road
Moultrie, GA 31768
November 30, 2013

Via: First Class Mail; Certified, Return Receipt Requested Mail; Email

Matthew J. Calvert
Hunton & Williams LLP
Suite 4100
600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30308-2216

Dear Mr. Calvert:

This letter is to inform you that I do not consent to Sabal Trail, Spectra Energy or any of its agents or employees entering my two properties Continue reading Any entry onto either of these two properties will be deemed a trespass –Sandra Jones to FERC

We hereby RESCIND our original permission –Kiokee-Flint Group

Filed with FERC 27 November 2013 by Dinorah Hall:

November 26, 2013

Dear Matthew J. Calvert,

We, the undersigned, are landowners who have received several letters from Sabal Trail Transmission Pipeline LLC’s agents and attorneys informing us of Sabal’s intent to enter our respective properties to conduct surveys in connection with the FERC Docket No. PF14-1. Originally, some of us had given consent to the company to conduct the surveys. However, based on recent events including the company’s refusal to provide us with details about its proposal and its efforts to harass us with visits, letters and phone calls about the survey, we hereby RESCIND our original permission.

We do not believe that you have a right Continue reading We hereby RESCIND our original permission –Kiokee-Flint Group

Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information –Carol Singletary to FERC

Filed with FERC 20 November 2013:

Carol Singletary, Valdosta, GA.

I am strongly contesting the information provided in the RR1 Sabal-Trail-Project initial Draft PF — final PDF, under Accession number 20131115-5084, docket number PF14-1. Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information to me, the property owner. Their filing exaggerated their efforts to contact and respond to property owners concerns.

My impression is the landowner consultations are motivated to extract an agreement from the landowner for the survey. I have submitted questions to Sabal Trail representatives at the October 16th Open House held in Valdosta, Georgia and I am still waiting for a response. I have more Continue reading Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information –Carol Singletary to FERC