SpectraBusters moves to intervene on Sabal Trail et al.

No domestic need for the fracked methane, which Spectra Energy’s CEO has said it wants to export; no insurance despite Spectra’s track record of safety violations; environmental destruction of water and soil: for these and other reasons SpectraBusters, Inc. has filed a motion to intervene with all three parts of the fracked methane pipeline project including Sabal Trail, using a form of filing that other groups could copy.

300x222 All three dockets selected, in How to intervene, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 17 December 2014 How can eminent domain be conferred on Sabal Trail, where there is no benefit to the public, there is zero provision for disaster accountability, and no real attempt at a real environmental impact study? Along with the EPA, a taxpayer funded agency, we’d like answers to these questions that we have posed to FERC for the past year.

Here’s how you or your organization can file a motion to intervene.

Filed with FERC 24 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141224-5069, “Motion to Intervene of SpectraBusters, Inc. under CP15-17, et. al..”

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC Docket No. CP15-17-000
Hillabee Expansion Docket No. CP15-16-000
Florida Southeast Connection Docket No. CP14-554-000

MOTION TO INTERVENE

Pursuant to Rules 212 and 214 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the “Commission”), 18 C.F.R. §§ 385.212 and 385.214, and Section 15(a) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. § 717n), SpectraBusters, Inc. (“Intervenor”) hereby moves to intervene as a party to this proceeding. In support hereof, Intervenor shows as follows:

On November 21, 2014, Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC (“Sabal”) filed its application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity in order to authorize it to construct, operate, and acquire facilities to transport natural gas to downstream markets in the United States. Sabal Trail is a part of but only one component of the Southeast Market Pipelines Project. Expansion. The other two components of the project are the Transco Hillabee Expansion in Alabama and the Florida Southeast Connection pipeline in Florida. The Sabal Trail pipeline cannot function or meet its stated purpose without these other two component projects. Due to the close and interconnected nature of the three pipeline components of the Southeast Market Pipelines we move that we be granted leave to intervene in the three above referenced proceedings.

  1. Contact Information and Service of Filings.

    Intervenor requests that the Commission include the following representatives on the official service list to receive service of all filings and communications made in these proceedings:

    Beth Gordon, President
    SpectraBusters, Inc.
    spectrabusters@gmail.com
    PO Box 3684
    Valdosta, GA 31604-3684

    The Gordon Law Firm
    thegordonlawfirm@aol.com
    (352) 528-0111
    113 E Noble Ave.
    Williston, FL 32696

  2. Motion to Intervene

    Intervenor is a nonprofit educational group, citizen-organized and citizen-run, with board members in all three states on the path of the Southeast Market Pipeline Project, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. We have worked since 2013 to find and publish contextual information about the track record of the proponents of this pipeline project, its potential destruction of our local environment, and its hazards to private property, health, and local economy. We have sought in vain for any need for this project, discovering instead attempts to market a glut of methane from fracking; attempts not only by fossil fuel and pipeline companies but also by the federal agencies that are supposed to regulate those companies. We find no excuse for another natural gas pipeline when solar power is cheaper, faster, safer, far less environmentally damaging, and brings more jobs with no need for eminent domain to take private property.

    The EPA southeastern division has recently pointed out in a FERC ecomment that there is no real need for this gas in Florida. The CEO of Spectra Energy has stated that Spectra is positioning itself for LNG export, while Sabal Trail’s spokeswoman has written in the Gainesville Sun that Sabal Trail has not applied for export licenses. Spectra is a pipeline company, and the statement was misleading. We believe that Sabal Trail intends to supply some or a majority of this gas to LNG export terminals that have been permitted near this pipeline route. In the beginning of this Sabal Trail situation, their stated purpose was to change over 1,000,000 households in Lakeland Florida from coal to gas electricity. We do not believe that any corporation would invest 3 billion dollars, though it will eventually he paid for by FPL customers, just to service a million customers already paying for electricity. No, the LNG market is probably where this company intends to bring this tracked methane gas. Three plants have been permitted in Florida, and another to use LNG for trucks. FERC has thus far failed to answer direct questions about the end user intent. Eminent domain requires necessity and benefit to the public, not stockholders of Spectra and FPL. Without transparency as to how this gas will be used there can be no eminent domain.

    Similarly, zero attention has been given to environmental impact in these sensitive areas of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. No water or soil testing has been done, and FERC intends to allow Sabal Trail to hire its own company to do this. This is FERC’s job. There has also been no attempt to answer the question, who pays for damages from loss of life or property should there be an accident along the route. Spectra has told its stockholders they are underinsured for an explosion that causes loss of life. If an electrician, a plumber, or a road repair company works for any of the counties along the pipeline route, each county requires that company to be insured- some require the trades to secure a bond. The states require trades to be licensed, insured, and bonded for accidents as well. Why is FERC intentionally overlooking this extremely important issue for citizens along this route? FERC has thus far not answered questions about this. Given Spectra’s recent track record of safety violations— the same sort of violation that lead to a spectacular explosion in Edison NJ in 1994, FERC ought to be concerned about this as well.

    How can eminent domain be conferred on Sabal Trail, where there is no benefit to the public, there is zero provision for disaster accountability, and no real attempt at a real environmental impact study? Along with the EPA, a taxpayer funded agency, we’d like answers to these questions that we have posed to FERC for the past year.

    Accordingly, the Commission’s actions in these proceedings, which relate to the construction and operation of the pipeline, directly and immediately affects Intervenor, and no other party can adequately represent Intervenor’s interests. By intervening in these proceedings, Intervenor will be able to monitor all developments in this matter that may affect Intervenor’s interests including the potential effects of the pipeline’s location, construction, and operation in the event Sabal’s application is approved and a certificate of public convenience and necessity is issued. The Commission, therefore, should allow Intervenor to intervene in these proceedings.

WHEREFORE, for the above reasons, Intervenor requests that the Commission GRANT its Motion to Intervene.

Done this 19th day of December, 2014.

Respectfully submitted,
[signed]
Beth Gordon
President
Spectrabusters, Inc.
spectrabusters@gmail.com
PO Box 3684
Valdosta, GA 31604-3684

The Gordon Law Firm
thegordonlawfirm@aol.com
(352) 528-0111
113 E Noble Ave.
Williston, FL 32696

-jsq

1 thought on “SpectraBusters moves to intervene on Sabal Trail et al.

  1. We read your article and want to know what your current status is in opposition to the Sabal Trail Pipeline proposed to come through South Georgia and into Florida. We are currently being propositioned by Sabal Trail to sell them a 50 foot easement going next to the easement corridor previously established by SONAT. We currently have a 50 foot easement that bisects our property north to south, which is located in Brooks County, Georgia. Sabal Trial intends to place another 50 foot easement adjacent to the SONAT easement so that we effectively lose a 100 foot strip of our property for any current or future development.
    We are currently seeking legal representation in Georgia to oppose Sabal Trail. Is there a class action suit ongoing, or is there a list of good attorney representation available? Sabal Trail’s offer to us was deplorable given the impact they will make on our property, and no one has communicated with us regarding Sabal Trials legal status, or the FERC report and findings. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tracy Ryder @ Ryderjt@ryderinc.com.

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