Monthly Archives: March 2014

Spectra stands down on drilling core samples at the Santa Fe River, Florida

March 13, 2014FERC, Florida, Gilchrist County, Law, Suwannee County, Watercore samples, eminent domain, FERC, Florida, Gilchrist County, John S. Quarterman, Law, Our Santa Fe River, property rights, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee CountyJohn S. Quarterman

Mighty Spectra stopped from drilling for now by local opposition in Suwannee and Gilchrist Counties, Florida! Why were they preparing to drill anyway, when they don’t have a permit, and haven’t even started the formal permitting process with FERC to get it? Why have they also been reported going on property without permission this week in Georgia?

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, president of Our Santa Fe River (OSFR), reports:

Sabal has started to stake the ground as to where to put what is called a drilling station. There are plans to put one station in Gilchrist and one in Suwannee. They intend to dig a tunnel under the river bed by directional bore drilling to connect the 2 sites. There have been NO permits issued for any of this; experts have not had time to review all the pertinent information on historical resources, biology, geology, etc… Residents in Gilchrist have not even signed papers allowing them access to their land for surveying purposes and now they are staking for core drilling samples!

Sabal is presently staking Gilchrist Cypress Shores property and plans to drill for core material so that they understand what is under the ground when they plan to bring in the heavy drilling equipment (years from now). Cart before the horse. The FERC has not even decided this is the route. We have important information that shows this is a Springs system and should not be put here and will present at scoping meetings.

Deborah Hogan called me last night to tell me Sabal will “stand down” till they have more information in the Suwannee County side. Sabal believes they are in the clear to do bore hole samples for directional drilling to put a drilling platform that will go under the River and connect to other side.

Sabal has no need to do these core samples now. to find their site location. There has been no approval of this route. The Environmental Impact Study EIS, has not been completed. The scoping meetings have not been done.

OSFR has also contacted Suwannee River Water Management District and Gilchrist County Administrator, Bobby Crosby, to stop the Gilchrist core sampling.

OSFR has called the following people for more info and to get them to stop.

Deborah Hogan, Sabal survey representative, 1-305-433-1700

and

John Peconom, FERC, 1-202-502-6352

Merrillee adds:

Environmental lawyer that represents IREPA, Christopher Byrd, also takes credit for stopping Sabal for the moment.

Maybe people would like to mention this at the Suwannee County Commission meeting 6PM Tuesday 18 March 2014. The FERC Scoping Meetings go to Florida that same day, starting in Lake Wales and heading up to north Florida the following week. And you can file ecomments with FERC at any time.

-jsq

Corporate power comes home –Jim Parker

March 13, 2014Economy, Georgia, Law, Lowndes County, SafetyBill Slaughter, citizens, corporation, Economy, Georgia, Government, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lowndes County, Michael G. Noll, property rights, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Letter to the Editor in the Valdosta Daily Times yesterday. -jsq

How is it that one foreign corporation, that has just come into existence to do this project, can have greater power than all of the thousands of citizens affected, and their elected governments?
No, I’m not talking about the Keystone XL pipeline, but he issues are the same. This one wants to run a 36-inch gas pipeline through a number of states and counties, including Lowndes, affecting thousands of landowners. It’s known as Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC, and is the unholy offspring of Spectra Energy Corp. and NextEra Energy.
How can one foreign corporation (they’re from out of state), have so much power vis-avis the thousands of landowners and citizens of Lowndes County, that the citizens must give up Continue reading Corporate power comes home –Jim Parker →

Suwannee County Gas Pipeline Alert

March 13, 2014Florida, Suwannee County, WaterDavid Hannah, Florida, Ichetucknee Alliance, Ichetucknee River, Ichetucknee River Estates, John S. Quarterman, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson Santa Fe River, Our Santa Fe River, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, Withlacoochee RiverJohn S. Quarterman

Seen on Our Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee Alliance facebook pages today. Spectra Energy also proposed the Sabal Trail methane pipeline to go under the Withlacoochee River a second time just before it goes under the Suwannee River to enter Suwannee County. Why not just cross the Suwannee upstream of Ellaville where the Withlacoochee meets the Suwannee? Because that’s where Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park is. Maybe the Withlacoochee, Suwannee, Ichetucknee, and Santa Fe Rivers are also important to the culture of the entire area.

Gas Pipeline Alert:
Tuesday, March 18th, 6 pm, Suwannee County BOCC

North Central Florida, here is the next public meeting about Sabal’s gas highway in Suwannee County, cutting under a Springshed in the Santa Fe River, about 1/2 mile from the confluence of the Ichetucknee River.
Speak to Board about your concerns with a gas highway through Suwannee County and the Santa Fe River, near the Ichetucknee River (.66 miles away from the confluence). Fill out a card to speak when you arrive. You will have 3 minutes to address the Board. read more here: http://www.suwanneedemocrat.com/suwannee/x787212730/Suwannee-County-Commission-meeting-agenda-for-March-18-2014
SUWANNEE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
JUDICIAL ANNEX BUILDING
218 PARSHLEY STREET SOUTHWEST
LIVE OAK, FLORIDA 32064
TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR March 18, 2014, 6:00 P.M.
“14. Discuss Sabal Trail gas line. (David Hanna) 5 minutes”

Gas explosion in Harlem

March 12, 2014Explosion, Hazards, Leak, New YorkDurham Woods, Edison, explosion, Harlem, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, leak, Manhattan, New Jersey, New York, New York City, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

A huge methane explosion in New York City reminds people of 9/11. And of Spectra’s Durham Woods explosion in Edison, NJ.

Michael J. Feeney, Greg B. Smith, Pete Donohue, Jennifer H. Cunningham, Stephen Rex Brown and Corky Siemaszko for the New York Daily News, today, Underground gas explosion in East Harlem kills 3, injures dozens — up to 10 people feared missing: sources

“It’s a tragedy of the worst kind,’ Mayor de Blasio says Wednesday near Park Ave. and E. 116th St. Up to 10 people were still missing from the two buildings that contained 15 apartments, Absolute Piano and Spanish Christian Church, an NYPD source said. One of the victims was identified by sources as Griselde Camacho, 44, who lived at 1644 Park Ave.”

Nobody knows for sure the cause, but it appears to be gas:

“There was no warning in advance,” said Mayor de Blasio, who added that the cause of the blast that also flattened 1646 Park Ave. appears to be a gas leak.

Ah, maybe there will be a real investigation of this one: Continue reading Gas explosion in Harlem →

Spectra CEO Greg Ebel excuses for lack of methane pipeline delivery

March 12, 2014Economy, Florida, Solar, TexasEconomy, export, Florida, FPL, Greg Ebel, John S. Quarterman, LNG, methane, price, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

How does Spectra’s northern cold snap excuse for fracked gas apply to Florida, the target for the Sabal Trail, Hillabee, and Florida Southeast Connection methane pipelines? And if Spectra CEO Greg Ebel gets his wish to export gas, which T. Boone Pickens already explained will drive up domestic prices, how will higher gas prices help northern cities? Maybe Spectra’s pipelines aren’t for warming up cold houses; maybe they’re for corporate profit at the expense of landowners, taxpayers, ratepayers, and all those “natural” gas bus riders who will be surprised when their fares go up. Maybe we should stop the Sabal Trail pipeline and see if the fracking house of cards falls apart.

Jonathan Fahey wrote for AP 10 March 2014, Natural gas industry struggles to keep promises,

There’s plenty of natural gas in the ground, everyone seems to agree. But the harsh weather this winter shows there are obstacles to producing it, and more pipelines have to be built.

The bitter temperatures boosted demand for natural gas to heat homes and businesses. But wells in some places literally froze, making it difficult for some drillers to keep gas flowing. And the high demand clogged pipelines, so even when there was enough production, the gas couldn’t get where it needed to go.

Shortages cropped up, and prices in some places soared to record levels. Californians and Texans were asked to reduce their power consumption because utilities were running low on gas to run power plants. Montana State University in Billings had to cancel classes for a day because of a natural gas shortage.

Jim Fuquay amplified that chilly northern point for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram 11 March 2014:

Prices in New England briefly spiked to record levels. Californians were asked to reduce their power consumption because utilities were running low on gas to run power plants.

If the problem is cold weather in the north, why does Spectra want to build a pipeline to sunny Florida?

Curiously, the Star-Telegram omitted this point from the AP story; I’ve emphasized the redacted point: Continue reading Spectra CEO Greg Ebel excuses for lack of methane pipeline delivery →

Encourage natural gas –Senator Johnny Isakson (R GA)

March 11, 2014GeorgiaGeorgia, Johnny Isakson, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

In response to a request by a Georgia citizen for him to help oppose the Sabal Trail methane pipeline, Senator Johnny Isakson didn’t even answer directly, instead he sent a form letter pushing fossil fuels including “natural” gas, although it doesn’t get around to mentioning that until the second paragraph. An old letter, that refers to “last Congress” as when he wrote to “President Bush”. Why won’t a U.S. Senator represent his constituents? -jsq

From: senator@isakson.senate.gov
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2014 4:35 PM

Dear Mrs. Hall:

Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation’s energy dependence. I appreciate hearing from you and appreciate the opportunity to respond.

There are no quick fixes in dealing with our nation’s dependence on foreign energy, but there are things we have done to address it and there are more things we must do. I have voted to explore our own reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) because I believe we can be good stewards of our land while at the same time exploring for resources that increase supply and lessen our dependence on foreign oil, thus reducing prices. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain the 60 votes needed to end the filibuster on this legislation in the last Congress. It is my hope that we will be able to address and pass these needed reforms in this session of Congress. I have voted to make oil-producing and exporting cartels, such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), illegal, and to make any legislation that is introduced in the Senate that would increase gas prices subject to a procedural roadblock. I also have voted in favor of a 35-mile-per-gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard for automobiles. By 2020, all cars sold in the United States must get an average of 35 miles to the gallon, saving 18 billion gallons a year of gas by 2020 and significantly reducing demand and gas prices. Last Congress I also wrote former President Bush to ask that he immediately halt deposits of domestic crude oil into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Temporarily halting deposits to the reserve can provide some relief because the increased supply of oil available for refinement will send the right signal to all markets that the U.S. Government will take measures necessary to address exorbitant crude oil prices that negatively affect the global economy.

As a major consumer of energy, America should be a leader in the development of new sources of energy and the development of renewable resources. Last Congress I joined with Republican and Democratic colleagues to develop national energy policy to implement innovative solutions to increase electric generation and transmission, reduce gas prices, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and strengthen our economy. America’s energy infrastructure should encourage using all viable sources, including nuclear, natural gas, Continue reading Encourage natural gas –Senator Johnny Isakson (R GA) →

No Fracked Gas in Mass. allies with SpectraBusters

March 11, 2014Agriculture, Economy, Environment, Explosion, Fracking, Leak, Massachusetts, Safety, Solar, Trees, WaterAgriculture, Economy, environment, explosion, Fracking, John S. Quarterman, Kinder Morgan, leak, Massachusetts, No Fracked Gas in Mass, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, solar, SpectraBusters, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, TGP, Trees, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Another new ally added to the Allies page; today it’s No Fracked Gas in Mass., who bring us excellent tips on getting a resolution your local elected government’s agenda.

“Fighting Kinder Morgan/TGP’s Northeast Expansion across the Berkshires and Northern Massachusetts. Our mission is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to create a comprehensive renewable energy infrastructure.”

They have an excellent post about getting resolutions on your town meeting agenda:

If you are thinking about bringing a non-binding resolution before your town meeting, time is running out. Each town has its own deadline for adding items to town meeting’s agenda and its own requirements for resolutions — in Cummington, we needed to gather just fifteen signatures and submit them to our town clerk for verification. Ask your select board members or your town clerk what the deadline is, and what the requirements are, for your town.

You can download the Cummington resolution to use as a model (here is a .txt version); if you are wondering what the point of a non-binding resolution is, please read this.

In Massachusetts select board members are what many other places call city council members. And many towns in Mass. make it easy for citizens to get resolutions on their agendas. Why should it be more difficult anywhere else? You can contact your Continue reading No Fracked Gas in Mass. allies with SpectraBusters →

Reports of Sabal Trail going on property without permission

March 10, 2014FERC, Georgiaeminent domain, FERC, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, survey, trespassingJohn S. Quarterman

According to reliable sources, Sabal Trail is going on people’s property without permission, repeatedly, today. This is in Georgia.

Everyone please be on the lookout.

Anyone willing to take pictures and send them, we can post them anonymously.

If anyone is willing to go on the record, that’s even better.

Pipeline companies should be aware that people take trespassing seriously.

-jsq

Flyer: The Sabal Trail Pipeline

March 10, 2014Hazards, Meetingsflyer, handout, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Meetings, Sabal Trail Pipeline, slides, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Here’s a one-sheet flyer suitable for handing out at FERC Scoping Meetings and other events: The Sabal Trail Pipeline, by Michael G. Noll.

PDF

Images of the two sides are below.

Keyspan LNG and Algonquin Pipeline denied by FERC

March 10, 2014FERC, Law, Rhode IslandAlgonquin Gas Transmission, certificate, CP04-223-000, CP04-293-000, CP04-358-000, denial, FERC, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, KeySpan LNG, Law, LNG, permit, pipeline, Providence, Rhode Island, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

This is the denied application that John Peconom gave me:

KeySpan LNG, L.P. and Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC

KeySpan LNG, L.P. Docket Nos. CP04-223-000 and
CP04-293-000

Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC Docket No. CP04-358-000

ORDER DENYING AUTHORIZATION UNDER SECTION 3
AND DISMISSING CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
(Issued July 5, 2005)

In this proceeding, KeySpan LNG, L.P. (KeySpan) requests authority under section³ of the Natural Gas Act to site, construct, and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at its existing LNG storage facility in the City of Providence, Rhode Island.¹ In a related application, Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC (Algonquin) requests authority under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate 1.44 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline in order to transport natural gas from KeySpan’s proposed terminal to Algonquin’s existing interstate pipeline system.²
In essence, KeySpan is proposing Continue reading Keyspan LNG and Algonquin Pipeline denied by FERC →