Monthly Archives: July 2014

Community Bill of Rights against pipelines

July 20, 2014FERC, Law, PennsylvaniaAtlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project, CELDF, Community Bill of Rights, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, corruption, FERC, FPL, Law, Sane Energy Project, Shale Justice Coalition, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Williams Company, zoningJohn S. Quarterman

Local governments can fight pipelines, even though FERC is funded by the companies it regulates and basically acts as a marketing firm for them, which is why FERC has only denied two pipelines. Pass a community bill of rights. And dare Spectra or FPL or Williams or whoever to challenge it in court.

John Trallo wrote for Sane Energy Project 7 July 2014, FERC and the Regulatory Trap

That is not to say that citizens should not get involved with the FERC regulatory process. You should, to get on record. You just have to also act outside the FERC process on the local municipality level to zone it out, or make it too expensive for the operator.

The ideal way to stop pipelines is by establishing a Community Bill of Rights that essentially “zones out” this kind of activity, or restricts it and establishes safety standards and set-backs in such a way that it is no longer economically worthwhile for an operator to build. The concept of a Community Bill of Rights has been championed by Continue reading Community Bill of Rights against pipelines →

Arrests at anti-fracking FERC sit-in protest

July 20, 2014FERC, Law, LNG, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginiaarrest, ccan, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Cove Point, DC, FERC, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, protest, Sane Energy Project, sit-in, SpectraBusters, VirginiaJohn S. Quarterman

225 years after the French Revolution began with the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, an activist dressed as the Statue of Liberty, a French gift to the United States, was one of 24 arrested in front of FERC, protesting fracking, pipelines, and LNG export.

Brandon Baker wrote for EcoWatch 14 July 2014, 24 Anti-Fracking Activists Arrested in Washington at First-Ever FERC Sit-In Protest,

Twenty-four anti-fracking activists were arrested Monday morning in Washington D.C. in protest of proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals in the U.S., according to environmental groups tweeting from the scene.

The protest centered on Cove Point, an export terminal that Continue reading Arrests at anti-fracking FERC sit-in protest →

March on FERC against Cove Point LNG exports 2014-07-13

July 20, 2014FERC, Law, LNG, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginiaccan, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Cove Point, DC, FERC, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sane Energy Project, SpectraBusters, VirginiaJohn S. Quarterman

Opposition to fracking, pipelines, and LNG export is nationwide and growing. One week ago, activists from Maryland, DC, and Virginia marched on Washington to demand an end to plans for exporting fracked methane from Maryland.

Mike Tidwell wrote for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (ccan) 15 July 2014, ALL ABOUT UNITY: THANK YOU AND ONWARD FROM THE STOP GAS EXPORTS RALLY,

Wow. On Sunday, the heat scorching the streets of DC was palpable. But, even more so, was the passion and power of our movement. THANKS to everyone who turned out to say NO to fracking, NO to gas exports at Cove Point, NO to runaway climate change, and YES to real clean energy solutions.

Click here to check out all the photos on Facebook, and share them to spread the word!

We know the gas industry is all about division — blasting apart the rock beneath our earth, running pipelines through our towns, and further disrupting our fragile climate — now to ship the gas overseas for higher profit.
Continue reading March on FERC against Cove Point LNG exports 2014-07-13 →

Kinder Morgan bombarded with over 10,000 questions on pipeline expansion | CTV Vancouver News

July 16, 2014British Columbia, CanadaKinder MorganJohn S. Quarterman

The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, May 28, 2014 4:06PM PDT
VANCOUVER – Kinder Morgan is asking for more time to respond to over 10,000 questions submitted to the National Energy Board about the proposed expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline.

Bill Cosby and wife support opponents of proposed Massachusetts pipeline

July 16, 2014MassachusettsBill Cosby, Camille Cosby, Kinder Morgan, Massachusetts, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, TGPJohn S. Quarterman

AP, 12 July 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/07/12/bill-cosby-and-wife-support-opponents-proposed-massachusetts-pipeline/

This is the same Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) Kinder Morgan
tried to sneak past the public.

http://spectrabusters.org/2014/07/12/kinder-morgan-tries-stealth-pipeline-expansion-in-massachusetts/

Do we want pipeline wastewater spilled in the Floridan Aquifer?

July 16, 2014Environment, Hazards, Leak, Uncategorizedaquifer, brine, leak, North Dakota, spillJohn S. Quarterman

Fracked methane pipelines require testing with local water, which goes back into the local watersheds, not unlike what just happened with the brine spill in North Dakota:

Cleanup area nearly 2 miles down ravine after ND saltwater spill; separated pipe suspected Article by: JOSH WOOD , Associated Press Updated: July 10, 2014 – 10:00 PM http://www.startribune.com/nation/266545571.html?utm_content=buffer7947c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Duke Energy doesn’t care whether Sabal Trail pipeline is ever built

July 16, 2014Citrus County, Economy, FL PSC, Florida, Marion Countyboondoggle, Citrus County, Duke Energy, Economy, FGT, FL PSC, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, FPL, GNGS, Greenlaw, Gulfstream, Gulfstream Natural Gas System, John S. Quarterman, Marion County, Politics, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Raining on Spectra’s pipeline parade, Duke Energy’s Citrus County power plant open house once again emphasized Duke doesn’t care if Spectra and FPL’s fracked methane pipeline is ever built. And it’s not just because of Duke’s power plant that natural gas prices may go up soon: Sabal Trail feeding methane to already-authorized LNG export operations in Florida would also push prices up. So why build that useless Sabal Trail boondoggle? Why build that Duke gas plant, for that matter; why not go straight to solar power in the Sunshine State?

Fred Hiers wrote for Ocala.com 14 July 2014, Utility will build plant with or without new pipeline, Continue reading Duke Energy doesn’t care whether Sabal Trail pipeline is ever built →

The evitability of Andrea Grover’s fracked methane pipeline

July 14, 2014Colquitt County, Economy, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Law, LNG, Orange County, Solar, Suwannee CountyAndrea Grover, Colquitt County, Economy, eminent domain, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Landowner, Law, LNG, open-access, Orange County, permits, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, taxes, trespassJohn S. Quarterman

If they can’t even survey for it, they can’t build it, which may be why Andrea Grover just chanted desperately in three newspapers “the Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline is moving forward.” Nevermind almost everyone who has spoken up about it is against it. She didn’t say anything about taking your land for for profit for her company in Houston and for LNG export that would raise U.S. natural gas prices. But one thing she did say is why that can happen with no further permits if this pipeline should go forward.

Almost everybody opposed the pipeline at the “more than 50 open houses and public meetings” Ms. Grover bragged about in the Orlando Sentinel, in the Suwannee Democrat, and in the Moultrie Observer. She didn’t mention that opposition, but you can see it for yourself in these Continue reading The evitability of Andrea Grover’s fracked methane pipeline →

Greenlaw files Air Quality objections to Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline

July 14, 2014Compressor, Environment, Georgia, Hazards, Health, Law, Treesair quality, compressor, environment, GA EPD, Georgia, Greenlaw, Health, John S. Quarterman, Law, longleaf, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, TreesJohn S. Quarterman

Received today. Note this says Georgia EPD does have authority over an air permit for the Albany compressor station. State agencies do have direct as well as indirect roles. -jsq

Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 14, 2014

Sabal Trail Natural Gas Pipeline Threatens Air Quality in Southwest Georgia
GreenLaw files comments objecting to proposed natural gas pipeline
Atlanta, GA — Last week, additional concerns were raised about a proposed natural gas pipeline that threatens to cut across large swaths of Southwest Georgia, including longleaf pine tracts. GreenLaw, on behalf of a number of conservation groups, filed comments with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) that raised objections about air quality along the pipeline, including a proposed compressor station outside Albany, Georgia. Continue reading Greenlaw files Air Quality objections to Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline →

Not willing to exchange for money –Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation

July 13, 2014Florida, History, Lawaboriginal, Aboriginal Peoples, Big Cypress national Preserve, Bobby C. Billie, Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation, Everglades National Park, Florida, History, Indians, James K. Polk, John S. Quarterman, John Tyler, Law, Native Americans, Seminole, SpectraBusters, treatyJohn S. Quarterman

Bobby C. Billie of the Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation Aboriginal Peoples came to the hearing in Leesburg, GA for Sabal Trail Transmission v. the Bell family. Thanks to Trisha Springstead, here is a PDF with several documents from that Council; the first Statement and the main images are inline here in HTML. -jsq

Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation
Aboriginal Peoples
Statement
November 21, 2013
In the 1700’s and 1800’s The Miccosukee Simanolee Nation entered into Agreements with the United States and entered into an Executive Agreement with the United States in 1842, which guaranteed and recognized the Miccosukee Simanolee Nation Aboriginal Peoples’ title to about 5 million acres in south Florida. The Agreement was confirmed by Executive Order of the President in 1845. The Agreement has never been repudiated nor terminated Continue reading Not willing to exchange for money –Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation →