Monthly Archives: March 2014

Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company Denied by FERC

March 10, 2014Chambers County, FERC, Law, Liberty County, Texascertificate, Chambers County, Colquitt County, CP10-481-000, denial, FERC, Georgia, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, Kevin Bowman, Law, Liberty County, LNG, Moultrie, permit, pipeline, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Turtle Bayou Gas Storage CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

This is the denied application Kevin Bowman gave me, and that John Peconom also gave me:

Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company, LLC Docket No. CP10-481-000

ORDER DENYING APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZATIONS
(Issued June 16, 2011)

1. On August 9, 2010, Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company, LLC (Turtle Bayou) filed an application in Docket No. CP10-481-000 under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA),¹ requesting a certificate of public convenience and necessity under Part 157, Subpart A, of the Commission’s regulations² authorizing the construction and operation of a salt dome natural gas storage facility and associated pipeline facilities in Chambers and Liberty Counties, Texas. In addition, Turtle Bayou seeks a blanket certificate under Part 157, Subpart F, of the Commission’s regulations to engage in certain eligible construction activities³ and a blanket certificate under Part 284, Subpart G, of the regulations to provide open-access transportation services, including storage service.⁴ Turtle Bayou also requests authority to charge market-based rates for its storage services, and accordingly seeks a waiver of certain filing, accounting, and reporting requirements. As discussed below, the Commission denies Turtle Bayou’s application for the requested certificate authorizations.
¹ 15 U.S.C. § 717f(c) (2006).

² 18 C.F.R. Part 157 (2011).

³ Id.

⁴ 18 C.F.R. Part 284 (2011).

There’s also this: Continue reading Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company Denied by FERC →

Orders Denying Certificates

March 10, 2014Colquitt County, FERC, Georgia, Law, Lowndes County, Rhode Island, TexasAlgonquin Gas Transmission, certificate, Chambers County, Colquitt County, CP04-223-000, CP04-293-000, CP04-358-000, CP10-481-000, denial, FERC, Georgia, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, Kevin Bowman, KeySpan LNG, Law, Liberty County, LNG, Lowndes County, Moultrie, permit, pipeline, Rhode Island, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Texas, Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company, ValdostaJohn S. Quarterman

Given months to find them, all FERC could come up with for orders denying certificates was for two liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities. Each did have an associated pipeline request, but neither was for a stand-alone pipeline application. I do thank John Peconom and Kevin Bowman for providing these documents. However, really, is this all there is?

I asked John Peconom of FERC for a list of denied pipeline applications at the Moultrie makeup Sabal Trail Open House 27 January 2014, and again after the Valdosta FERC Scoping Meeting 4 March 2014, and each time Peconom said he would get me a list, including the actual orders denying some pipelines. At the Moultrie FERC Scoping Meeting 5 March 2014, I pointed out to the hundred-or-so attendees that I still hadn’t gotten a list.

After the Moultrie meeting, Kevin Bowman of FERC gave me a slip of paper with this written on it:

Turtle Bayou Gas
CP10-481-000
June 2011

See separate post.

Then John Peconom of FERC sent me an email message with these two links in it: Continue reading Orders Denying Certificates →

Spectra CEO expects to export fracked gas

March 9, 2014British Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, TexasBritish Columbia, export, Florida, Greg Ebel, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Louisiana, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

We don’t have to guess that Spectra wants to export from the Gulf; Spectra CEO Greg Ebel says so, and Spectra has already started development on an export pipeline in the other place he named at the same time.

Mike Lee wrote for Bloomberg 17 January 2012, Spectra Expects to Be Involved in North American LNG Exports,

Spectra, based in Houston, owns pipelines that carry gas along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and from fields in British Columbia, two areas where export terminals have been proposed, Ebel said in an interview at Bloomberg headquarters in New York today.

Cheniere Energy Inc. (LNG) is exploring multibillion-dollar projects to convert import terminals in Louisiana and Texas to liquefy and export gas. Apache Corp. (APA), EOG Resources Inc. (EOG) and Encana Corp. have proposed a liquefied natural gas export terminal at Kitimat on Canada’s West Coast.

“Our pipelines go right by all those facilities, really,” Ebel said. “You’ll probably see three to six of those get built. I would expect we’ll have some involvement in all of them.”

And, once again, this has nothing to do with any alleged energy need by Florida; it’s all about Continue reading Spectra CEO expects to export fracked gas →

Natural gas highway proposed in the springs heartland –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson

March 8, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Hamilton County, Suwannee County, WaterAlabama, Columbia County, Economy, environment, Florida, Floridan Aquifer, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Ichetucknee Alliance, Ichetucknee River, John S. Quarterman, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, NextEra Energy, Our Santa Fe River, Sabal Trail Transmission, Santa Fe River, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, springs, Suwannee County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Merrillee did it, and so can you: write a letter to your local newspaper, or to a state or national one, for that matter.

In the Suwannee Democrat Thursday and a longer version in the Gainesville Sun today, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson: Natural gas highway proposed in the springs heartland -jsq.

The springs have been taking a beating in our recent history and now they are poised to brace for another blow. Spectra Energy Corp. and NextEra Energy Inc. have teamed up to build a $3 billion gas highway that will connect an Alabama natural gas bulk transfer station, cut through Georgia and bisect Florida’s springs heartland.

It would extend down to Orlando, where the gas will be dispersed into two more pipelines, ultimately benefiting Florida Power and Light. The two corporations have created Sabal Trails LLC for the surveying and construction team. Spectra Energy Corp. constructs pipelines and created Sabal Trails to get the job done, while Florida Power and Light wants the gas and is a subsidiary of the electricity supplier NextEra Energy Inc.

The Florida citing commission has ruled to allow NextEra and Spectra the right to survey and build another gas transmission pipeline through Florida’s vulnerable landscape. Land impacts will be plentiful; protected animal and plant species will have to suffer Continue reading Natural gas highway proposed in the springs heartland –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson →

Sabal Trail same old at Albany FERC Scoping Meeting

March 8, 2014Agriculture, Dougherty County, Economy, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, WaterAgriculture, Agrriculture, Albany, Andrea Grover, Dougherty County, Economy, Explosions, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, WALB, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Spectra is claiming to have learned lessons from their safety record they previously repeatedly claimed they were not familiar with.

Josh Rhoden reported for WALB 3 and 4 March 2014, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission holds pipeline hearing,

Guenevere Perry and her mother Dianne came out to Monday night’s meeting, they’re worried about the effect the pipeline may have on their property value.

“Some of the concerns that would be more imminent to citizens in the area would be property value,” said Guenevere Perry.

Critics say Spectra energy, one of the companies involved in the project, has had three major explosions in Oklahoma, Canada, and Nebraska. But Andrea Grover with the Sabal Trail Project insists spectra has a good track record.

“Spectra energy really has a good safety record, we have the best in the industry, we take a lot of lessons learned and apply them to our programs,” said Andrea Grover, Sabal Trail Transmission.

So now she’s familiar with Spectra’s safety record after for months she wasn’t? When did Spectra learn all these lessons, and when Continue reading Sabal Trail same old at Albany FERC Scoping Meeting →

Tackle the Pipeline at the Root: Alabama FERC Scoping Meetings

March 8, 2014Alabama, Choctaw County, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Lowndes County, Meetings, Mississippi, Russell County, Tallapoosa CountyAlabama, Alexander City, Butler, Choctaw County, compressor station, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, FSC, Georgia, Hillabee Expansion Project, issues, John S. Quarterman, Lowndes County, Mississippi, panel, Russell County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Scoping Meetings, Seale, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tallapoosa County, Transco, Transco Station 85, WilliamsJohn S. Quarterman

PDF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, 8 March 2014 — SpectraBusters invites everyone to tackle the pipeline at its root this coming week in Seale, Alexander City, or Butler, at your only chances in Alabama to testify in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about the fracked methane pipelines proposed by Williams Transco, Spectra Energy, and FPL. Plus later a SpectraBusters panel on the issues.

FERC Scoping Meetings:
This week’s calendar:
SpectraBusters Panel:
In Conjunction with:

FERC Scoping Meetings:

5PM Sabal Trail discussion	Pipeline representatives will be present.
6PM FERC presentation about the process and the pipelines	Docket number PF14-6: Hillabee Expansion Project Docket number PF14-1: Sabal Trail Transmission Docket number PF14-2: Florida Southeast Connection
Then citizens can speak at the podium	Have what you say transcribed by a court recorder for the Commission’s administrative record.

This week’s calendar:

Monday, March 10, 2014 Russell County PF14-1 Sabal Trail West Georgians can cross the Chattahoochee River	Russell County High School 4716 Old Seale Highway Seale, AL 36875 (334) 855-4378
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Tallapoosa County Where PF14-6 and PF14-1 connect plus a compressor station	Central Alabama Community College Betty Carol Graham Technology Center 1675 Cherokee Road Alexander City, AL 35010 (256) 234-6346
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Choctaw County PF14-6 Hillabee Expansion Project begins at Transco Station 85 plus a compressor station	Butler Civic Center 108 North Academy Avenue Butler, AL 36904 (205) 459-3795 next to Mississippi

Or e-mail to efiling@ferc.gov or file online with FERC:
https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx
Or call 202-502-8258, or mail written comments to:

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary;
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
888 First St. N.E. Room 1A;
Washington, D.C. 20426.

Use Docket number PF14-1 for Sabal Trail Transmission,
or PF14-6 for Hillabee Expansion Project.

See calendar for Georgia last week and Florida the following two weeks:
http://spectrabusters.org/calendar/

SpectraBusters Panel:

There’s more to be done so there’s another meeting later…

3PM Saturday 29 March 2014
Lowndes County, GA

SpectraBusters Panel
Pipeline? No!

Elected officials and candidates for public office are invited to a SpectraBusters panel discussion in Lowndes County, Georgia. Topics will include potential pipeline routes, property rights (eminent domain, property values), water issues (aquifer, sinkholes, springs), whether Florida even needs more power, better power sources (solar, wind, conservation, and efficiency), noise, health, and hazards. SpectraBusters and allies from all states are invited, and are encouraged to hold panels elsewhere.
Sabal Trail, Spectra, FPL, Williams, and Duke: we don’t come to your internal company meetings, and you’ll hear from us at the Scoping Meetings.

Why: Spectra Energy, which had compressor station leaks in Maine in January and in Pennsylvania last year, plus multiple fines by Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for corrosion and leaks, and a record $15 million EPA fine for PCB contamination, proposes a hundred-foot-wide gash through our lands for their huge 36 inch Sabal Trail gas pipeline from Alabama through Georgia to feed Florida Power and Light (FPL) and Duke Energy for no benefit to local citizens and rate hikes for FPL customers. A one-time payment is not enough for decreased property values, permanent destruction, and hazards of leaks and explosions, when FPL and Spectra and Duke would profit forever. The gas comes from fracking in Pennsylvania and Texas, destroying watersheds, farmlands, and drinking water. Conservation, efficiency, and solar power are cheaper and bring jobs and energy here where we need them.

In Conjunction with:

Environmental Awareness Organization of Auburn University (EAOAU).
https://auburn.collegiatelink.net/organization/eao

Greenlaw protects clean air and water.
http://greenlaw.org/

New York Climate Action Group (NYCAG) the Spectra struggle (and Williams Transco Rockaway Lateral Pipeline in the Rockaways of Queens, NY and the LNG port resistance in Long Beach, NY).

Occupy the Pipeline, who fought the NYC extension on the Spectra Pipeline.
http://occupythepipeline.blogspot.com

Our Santa Fe River, protecting our most vital and vulnerable natural resource…water.
http://www.oursantaferiver.org/wp/

Sane Energy Project: to fight fossil fuel and nuclear infrastructure, and encourage renewable infrastructure.
http://www.SaneEnergyProject.org

Shale Property Rights, formerly Spectra Energy Watch.
http://www.shalepropertyrights.com/blog/

Sierra Club, America’s largest and oldest grassroots environmental group, exploring, enjoying, and protecting the environment since 1892.
http://www.sierraclub.org

Stop the Pipeline: No eminent domain, preserve local character and environment, and pipelines == fracking.
http://www.StopThePipeline.org

Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.) Valdosta State U.
http://ww2.valdosta.edu/vsu/stuorg/save/

Wiregrass Activists for Clean Energy (WACE): clean and sustainable energy sources.
http://www.wiregrass-ace.org/

WWALS Watershed Coalition, Willacoochee, Withlacoochee, Alapaha, and Little River Systems in south Georgia and north Florida.
http://www.wwals.net/

SpectraBusters: We ain’t afraid a no pipeline!
Landowners and others opposed to the Sabal Trail gas pipeline through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Contact:
spectrabusters@gmail.com
http://spectrabusters.org
www.facebook.com/spectrabusters

Garrett Kizer
Lee County, AL
850-420-3854

Danielle Jordan
Lowndes Co., GA
229-300-7422

Beth Gordon
Levy Co., FL
352-528-0111

###

Authority to Import and Export Gas by U.S. Department of Energy

March 7, 2014FE, FERC, LawDepartment of Energy, export, FE, FERC, Free Trade, import, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Office of Fossil Energy, order, SpectraBusters, TPP, Trans-Pacific PartnershipJohn S. Quarterman

Here’s a new way “entitled” fracking fossil fuel companies have gamed the system for LNG exports, currently to “Free Trade Agreement nations”, which will probably include India and China if the Trans-Pacific Parternship (TPP) gets approved. Even without exports, methane pipelines are to sell the “large amount of natural gas in the U.S.” produced by “the shale revolution”, which is fracking. The Sabal Trail pipeline isn’t about any alleged energy need in Florida. It’s about profits from fracking at the expense of your land.

Department of Energy notice 6 May 2013, Authority to Import and Export Gas: Constellation Energy Commodities Group Inc., et al.

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy gives notice that during March 2013, it issued orders granting authority to import and export natural gas and liquefied natural gas and vacating prior authority. These orders are summarized in the attached appendix and may be found on the FE Web site at http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/authorizations/Orders-2012.html. They are also available for inspection and copying in the Office of Fossil Energy, Office of Natural Gas Regulatory Activities, Docket Room 3E-033, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9478. The Docket Room is open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2013.
John A. Anderson,
Manager, Natural Gas Regulatory Activities, Office of Oil and Gas Global Security and Supply, Office of Fossil Energy.

That web page includes a list of “DOE/FE Orders Granting Import/Export Authorizations”. The export orders are mostly for export to Canada and Mexico, plus two for “export LNG by vessel” from “the Lake Charles LNG Terminal” and “the proposed Gasfin LNG Export Project in Parish, Louisiana” to “Free Trade Agreement nations.”

Here’s DoE’s list of current NATURAL GAS IMPORT & EXPORT REGULATION – FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) COUNTRIES AND LNG EXPORTS: Continue reading Authority to Import and Export Gas by U.S. Department of Energy →

A hundred against the Sabal Trail pipeline in Albany

March 6, 2014Dougherty County, FERC, Georgia, LawAlbany, Carol Singletary, Dougherty County, FERC, Georgia, Gloria Gaines, John S. Quarterman, Law, Melvin George, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Spencer LeeJohn S. Quarterman

People who were there tell me a hundred locals were present, many spoke against the pipeline, while not one spoke for it. And the Dougherty County Attorney and a County Commissioner spoke against the pipeline.

Carlton Fletcher wrote for the Albany Herald 2014-03-04, Large crowd takes pipeline concerns to federal officials at Albany meeting,

While others pondered and expounded on the complexities of the proposed 460-mile Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline projected to run through a large portion of south Dougherty County, Melvin George’s take on the controversial project was one of simplicity.

“Here’s the shortest route, the one that makes the most sense: Continue reading A hundred against the Sabal Trail pipeline in Albany →

Colquitt County passes pipeline minimum depth resolution

March 5, 2014Agriculture, Colquitt County, FERC, Georgia, LawAgriculture, Colquitt County, depth, FERC, Georgia, Law, Moultrie, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

The Colquitt County Commission demonstrated there are things local governments can do.

Alan Mauldin wrote for the Moultrie Observer 4 March 2014, County urges minimum depth for Sabal Trail pipeline,

As the largest and most diverse agricultural county in Georgia, the prospect of a 100-foot construction zone for a pipeline project raises concerns in Colquitt County.

On Tuesday, Colquitt County Commission put its thoughts on the issue of farmland as it relates to the proposed pipeline into an official statement. In a resolution, commissioners voted to request protection for farm resources, land and water, and equipment.

“The Colquitt County Board of Commissioners adamantly urge that the Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline is buried with a minimum of five feet of top cover when traversing agricultural properties to include pasture land, cultivated lands, surface drains, diversions, waterways, open ditches and streams,” the commission said in the document.

Continue reading →

FERC refuses to release RFP for environmental contractor

March 5, 2014Environment, FERC, Lawenvironment, Ethics, FERC, Georgia, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, LAKE, Law, Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange, Lowndes County, Merjent, Request for Proposals, RFP, Sabal Trail Transmission, South Georgia Regional Library Board, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, transparencyJohn S. Quarterman

FERC is less transparent about a $3 billion project than a local library board was about a $10 million project. Last night in Valdosta FERC again failed to provide the RFP used in selecting the environmental contractor to be used on all three of the proposed connected methane pipelines. I’ve never heard of any other tax-funded agency refusing to release an RFP of which they have a copy. Have you?

FERC Kevin Bowman environmental protection specialist (pictured on the left) said he’d never heard anyone request an RFP before. He should talk to his FERC co-worker John Peconom (pictured on the right), because, as I mentioned when I stood up to talk, Peconom had already refused to release that RFP.

At the make-up Open House in Moultrie I asked John Peconom for: Continue reading FERC refuses to release RFP for environmental contractor →