The mayor of Valdosta has filed with FERC a resolution against Sabal Trail, in support of the resolution by Lowndes County, the most populous county on any of the proposed pipeline paths in Georgia. In addition to echoing Lowndes County’s concerns about property rights, safety of school children, lack of benefit to the state of Georgia, the availability of a path to completely bypass Georgia, and public opposition, Valdosta also added a WHEREAS about the Floridan Aquifer, the source of almost all of our drinking water in south Georgia and Florida. See also LAKE videos of Valdosta and Lowndes County passing those resolutions.

Filed with FERC today 17 December 2014, Accession Number: 20141217-5076, “Comment of John Gayle in Docket(s)/Project(s) CP15-17-000 Submission Date: 12/17/2014”,

John Gayle, Valdosta, GA.

Listed below is a Resolution that the Valdosta, Georgia Mayor and Council adopted on December 11, 2014 in support of the Lowndes County, Georgia Resolution which opposes the Sabal Trail Transmission Line.

RESOLUTION NO. 2014-23

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THE SABAL TRAIL PIPELINE PROJECT

WHEREAS, Spectra Energy of Houston, Texas has proposed to build a $3.7 Billion, 460-mile natural gas line known as Sabal Trail; and

WHEREAS, the City of Valdosta wishes to support the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners in the concerns they have expressed regarding personal property rights of citizens along with the limited use of right-of-ways, while maintaining the responsibility for taxes and liability where the Sabal Trail pipeline is proposed to be located; and

WHEREAS, like the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, the City of Valdosta does not oppose pipelines as the best way to move natural gas, oil, or other products that may be needed for the continued economic stability of our nation; and

WHEREAS, the City of Valdosta supports the concerns expressed by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners for the safety of our citizens and children at Clyattville Elementary School who will be located near Sabal Trail pipeline, some which will be located within a potential blast zone in the event of a pipeline failure; and

WHEREAS, the City of Valdosta has concerns regarding any potential effect the proposed pipeline or its construction might have on the Floridan aquifer, the primary source of the drinking water supply for our City, County and the south Georgia area; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia, Lowndes County, and the City of Valdosta has not been shown to benefit from the availability of natural gas from the Sabal Trail pipeline to the City, County and State at this time; and

WHEREAS, Sabal Trail pipeline originates in the State of Alabama and will ultimately serve the State of Florida and without documented benefit to the State of Georgia, construction should by-pass the state of Georgia and the small area affected in Georgia could be easily avoided by bypassing the southwestern corner of the State; and

WHEREAS, the City of Valdosta has monitored various public discussions on this subject, some held by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, including discussions with affected property owners, and the overall burden to the property owners of Lowndes County who strongly oppose locating the Sabal Trail pipeline in Lowndes County;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City of Valdosta supports the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners in their opposition to the construction of the Sabal Trail pipeline in any portion of Lowndes County. The City’s support includes concerns with fundamental property rights, the manner in which eminent domain might be utilized, and the lack of demonstrated benefit to the City and County. Furthermore, the City of Valdosta supports the Lowndes County Commission in their formal request to the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC), and to State and Federal Legislators in the effort to have Lowndes County and the State of Georgia bypassed in the construction of the proposed pipeline.

SO RESOLVED, this 11th day of December, 2014.

Mayor John Gayle, City of Valdosta

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