Monthly Archives: February 2016

NY Gov. asks FERC to suspend license for a Spectra pipeline

Petitions to the New York Governor may have helped him send this message to FERC about Spectra’s AIM pipeline project that would go far too close to the document-forging caught-fire leaked-oil-into-the-Hudson River Indian Point nuclear plant:

Lisa W. Foderaro, New York Times, 28 Feb 2016, Plan to Expand a Pipeline at Indian Point Raises Concern,

On Monday, the state plans to notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it will take a hard look at the project in light of a series of problems at the nuclear plant since last May. In addition, the state will ask federal regulators to suspend their approval of the project — effectively halting construction — until the study is completed.

“I am directing Continue reading NY Gov. asks FERC to suspend license for a Spectra pipeline

Sabal Trail wants to plow through oak grove and horse pasture in Lake County

Sue Avera reports from Lake County, Florida:

Oak Grove, parcel 3353412, Lake County, Florida My name is Sue Avera I have a property in Groveland Fl. I board, train, breed. sell, show, horses and I also coach my clients at equine competitions. I have been here for 19 yrs doing business from this property and was at my former address in this business for 21 yrs. Sabal Trails is putting pipleine through my east 6 acres. It will go right down the middle of the property, rendering it useless until they leave. this is 1/3 of my work space. It will also take down a 150+ Oak Hammock that is my only shade on that 6 acres. I am not going to be able to safely even continue my work without renting a barn and arena so that I can keep my clients.

This is the oak grove: Continue reading Sabal Trail wants to plow through oak grove and horse pasture in Lake County

Suwannee County Opposes Fracking and Revocation of Home Rule

SBOCC Chair Jason Bashaw
SBOCC Chair Jason Bashaw

Joining Forty-one different cities and 27 counties in Florida that have voted to ban fracking or have expressed their opposition to it since January 2015, Suwannee County BOCC approved three identical fracking opposition letters to Governor Scott, Pro-fracking Bill Sponsors Senator Richter  (SB 318) and House Representative Rodrigues (HB 191) tonight.
These bills also contain language that would eliminate Home Rule for local governments concerning fracking.

Chairman Jason Bashaw stated that the board was in agreement that fracking or any high pressure activity underground in Suwannee County and the entire state of Florida’s karst (sinkhole prone) topology would endanger our sole source of water the Floridan aquifer.  A risk that he and the rest of the board is not willing to take.  Chairman Bashaw also said that he and all board members take exception to the language in the bills that strip local governments of their right to home rule concerning fracking – or anything for that matter.

Fracking involves the pumping of water or acid into wells at great depths which is something you cannot do here in Florida as our aquifer which serves drinking water to 90% of the state, is unique in that the aquifer is literally beneath the ground and at the surface in the form of  thousands of springs which are the windows to our aquifer.  The state of Florida is prone to sinkholes due to the porous limestone that lies below and above the surface of the land in Florida.  This limestone topology is supported by the aquifer and affected by the depletion of it’s water.

Continue reading Suwannee County Opposes Fracking and Revocation of Home Rule

Suwannee County Commissioners and public to hike to Sabal Trail Suwannee River Crossing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Live Oak, February 10, 2016 — The date has been set to go see where Spectra Energy of Houston Texas has been permitted by the Picture by Alton Burns Federal Energy Regulatory (FERC) in Washington, DC to drill under the Suwannee River for its Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline despite widespread local opposition. The Suwannee Board of County Commissioners already voted a resolution to move Sabal Trail’s compressor station. Still mulling stronger action, the SBOCC agreed at a recent meeting to go with local guides, including WWALS Watershed Coalition board member Chris Mericle, on a hike with the public to where FERC said construction monitoring was important for the river and our drinking water in the Floridan Aquifer, but Sabal Trail should be left to self-monitor. The day and time have been set: 8:15 AM Thursday February 18, 2016.

All interested individuals will meet at: Continue reading Suwannee County Commissioners and public to hike to Sabal Trail Suwannee River Crossing

Movie online: At What Cost? Pipelines, Pollution and Eminent Domain in the Rural South

Now streaming online: At What Cost? Pipelines, Pollution and Eminent Domain in the Rural South, by Mark Albertin. And yes, he’s happy for it to be shown elsewhere; just ask, and you can set up a local viewing like in Live Oak last night, or the previous premieres along the Georgia coast.

Most of the issues are the same for Spectra Energy’s invading Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline as for Kinder Morgan’s invading Palmetto petroleum products pipeline that is the subject of the movie. Thanks to Push Back the Pipeline for getting this movie made about Kinder Morgan’s proposed petroleum products pipeline from South Carolina across the Georgia coast to Jacksonville, Florida. Special thanks to Eileen, Lori, and Debra and the Woman’s Club of Live Oak for the movie showing last night, to WWALS Watershed Coalition and the Woman’s Club of Live Oak for hosting, and to Our Santa Fe River, and Gulf Restoration Network for helping promote it.

Don’t forget the hike to the Suwannee River Sabal Trail crossing 8:15 AM Thursday 28 February 2016 with Suwannee and Hamilton County Commissioners.

Spectra Energy of Houston, Texas wants to gouge Sabal Trail from Continue reading Movie online: At What Cost? Pipelines, Pollution and Eminent Domain in the Rural South

DATE SET – SBOCC & PUBLIC HIKE OF SABAL TRAIL PIPELINE ROUTE AT SUWANNEE RIVER CROSSING

The SBOCC and public hike of the Sabal Trail route of the proposed boring under the Suwannee River is (events facebook or meetup and press release):

Thursday February 18, 2016 at 8:15 am. All interested individuals will meet at:

Judicial Annex Building
218 Parshley St SW
Live Oak, FL 32064

There will be a Suwannee Valley Transit bus to carry people to the site. The bus is available for officials and the public to ride based on capacity, thus you may want to follow in your vehicle if necessary.

Note this is a hike through woods near the river in sinkhole filled terrain, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. You may also want to bring water to drink.

This hike will be very telling by what you see rather than what Sabal Trail has said concerning sinkholes in their pipeline route.

deb

We will accept Sabal Trail’s answers –FERC issues certificates

Property rights, environment, or safety? 14% pipeline company profit is more important! said FERC. But this fight is not over.

Page 1 Without ever appearing on FERC’s public calendar, and a month in advance of when FERC previously said, FERC yesterday issued certificates for Sabal Trail, the Transco Hillabee Expansion Project, and Florida Southeast Connection. Trial-style evidentiary hearing? Nope, FERC believes Sabal Trail. Consolidation of the three dockets into one? Nope, everybody should have opposed all three, says FERC. Environmental justice? Hey, demographics don’t matter, pipeline siting is all about engineering and “environmental” issues. And profit. Don’t forget profit for the pipeline companies. Solar power? Nevermind, Continue reading We will accept Sabal Trail’s answers –FERC issues certificates

SUWANNEE COUNTY SBOCC TO HIKE SABAL TRAIL RIVER CROSSING

Suwannee County commissioner Clyde Fleming attended the joint group meeting organized by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups January 15 2016.

The event was held at Suwannee River State Park where Sabal Trail plans to bore a pipeline under the River beginning 675 yards off the river bank. This event included a hike of the Sabal Trail pipeline route.

Sabal Trail has stated that there were no sinkholes Continue reading SUWANNEE COUNTY SBOCC TO HIKE SABAL TRAIL RIVER CROSSING