Category Archives: Environment

It seems that they just draw lines at random –James Ryder via Sen. Marco Rubio

June 7, 2014Brooks County, Economy, Environment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, Trees, WaterBrooks County, Economy, fair market value, FERC, Florida, FPL, Georgia, James Ryder, John S. Quarterman, Law, Marco Rubio, Morven, SONAT, Southern Natural Gas, Spain Road, SpectraBusters, Susan Waller, Tracey Ryder, Trees, Water, wetlandsJohn S. Quarterman

Florida’s other Senator just intervened with FERC on behalf of a landowner who has been trying to get reasonable solutions out of Spectra Energy since at least December. Sabal Trail is trying to force their unnecessary pipeline through this Brooks County, Georgia property among others that already have a gas pipeline: this one also already has an FPL power line. Why should FPL get to deface anybody’s property for both a power line and a pipeline while destroying wetlands and trees? Why do we think this will be the last pipeline if it is allowed to go in? As the Ryders ask, “If this was your farm, how would you like it divided?” How about not at all?

Filed with FERC 6 June 2014 as Senator Marco Rubio submits comments re the Southeast Market Pipelines Project under PF14-1. Florida Senator Bill Nelson intervened on behalf of Amelia Longley back on 1 November 2013.

Cover letter Continue reading It seems that they just draw lines at random –James Ryder via Sen. Marco Rubio →

Build FPL’s natural gas pipeline or not? –Palm Beach Post

June 2, 2014Economy, Environment, Florida, Fracking, Hazards, LNG, Martin Countycoal, Economy, environment, Eric Silagy, export, Florida, FPL, Fracking, Hazards, indirect, induced, jobs, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Martin County, NextEra Energy, oil, Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Post, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, T. Boone Pickens, windJohn S. Quarterman

FPL’s hometown newspaper never mentions solar or wind in an opinion piece asking whether you think the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline is a good idea. You can comment directly in the newspaper. Maybe you’d like to send your comments to FERC, as well.

Palm Beach Post Opinion Staff wrote yesterday, Should FPL’s natural gas pipeline be built?

NextEra Energy, parent of Florida Power & Light, is contracting with Spectra Energy to run a natural gas pipleine 591 miles through the heart of the state, ending in Martin County.

FPL President Eric Silagy says the company needs the additional pipeline to provide redundancy and added capacity to the state’s existing natural gas pipleines. FPL is now the nation’s largest consumer of natural gas, he says.

It’s curious how FPL’s own projections in its 10-year plan don’t support Continue reading Build FPL’s natural gas pipeline or not? –Palm Beach Post →

Say no to pipeline bait and switch –Marihelen Wheeler

June 1, 2014Environment, FERC, Florida, Gilchrist County, Hazards, Law, Marion County, Safety, Suwannee County, Texas, Waterbait and switch, Congress, environment, FERC, FL-03, Florida, Gilchrist County, Hazards, House of Representatives, John S. Quarterman, Law, Marihelen Wheeler, Marion County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Texas, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

This op-ed spells out actions by Sabal Trail and FERC, that it interprets as deception, and it concludes we can all say no to that unnecessary pipeline. I’ve added a few pictures and links.

Marihelen Wheeler wrote an op-ed in the Ocala StarBanner 1 June 2014, Floridians can and must say no to gas pipeline,

It should be called “psychological bait and switch.” This tactic is being used by corporations trying to engage and solicit residents’ support for controversial projects that will negatively impact those residents. Among the most recent projects is the proposed Sabal Trail gas pipeline that will disturb about 13,670 acres of Florida land.

A company’s first move is to propose an idea that is so distasteful that, Continue reading Say no to pipeline bait and switch –Marihelen Wheeler →

The Halliburton fracking Loophole and LNG exports

June 1, 2014Economy, Environment, FE, FERC, Fracking, Law, LNGClean Water Cat, Climate Change, coal, CWA, Economy, Ed Markey, EIA, Energy Policy Act, environment, EPA2005, export, FE, FERC, Fracking, Halliburton Loophole, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, NEPA, nuclear, RCRA, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, review, Safe Drinking Water Act, SDWA, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

So FE proposes to follow the law, NEPA, specifically. How about we also repeal the Halliburton Loophole in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPA2005) that enables fracking and LNG exports?

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE)’s parent U.S. Department of Energy (DoE)’s writeup on EPA2005 doesn’t mention its fracking effects or liquid natural gas (LNG) storage or export. FERC’s writeup spells out that EPA2005 not just enabled but required LNG export:

Mandatory within 60 days after date of enactment
Continue reading The Halliburton fracking Loophole and LNG exports →

LNG export approval pause puts FERC on hook for EIAs

June 1, 2014Economy, Environment, FE, FERC, Law, LNGEconomy, Ed Markey, EIA, environment, export, FE, FERC, Law, LNG, NEPA, review, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

FERC won’t be able to say it doesn’t know anything about LNG exports anymore, with this plan to require FERC environmental assessments before FE authorization. But this does nothing about the FE authorizations aleady granted, including the three at the end of the Transco -> Sabal -> FSC pipeline. A better idea: cancel LNG exports and build solar power instead.

Jennifer A. Dlouhy wrote for Fuelfix 30 May 2014, Winners and losers in feds’ new gas export review plan,

The Energy Department intends to scrap a two-year-old approach for considering applications to export LNG to countries that don’t have free trade agreements with the United States. Instead of reviewing them in the order they were filed, as the agency largely does now, the Energy Department would first tackle those that have already cleared an expensive, time-consuming environmental assessment typically done by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Ed Markey’s statement of 29 May 2014, Markey Commends DOE Move to Study Impacts of Large-scale Natural Gas Exports, heads in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough: Continue reading LNG export approval pause puts FERC on hook for EIAs →

Where are Floridian LNG and FLiNG Energy?

May 22, 2014Environment, Florida, Hazards, Health, LNG, Martin County, Waterenvironment, export, FLiNG Energy, Florida, Floridian LNG, FPL, Hazards, Health, John S. Quarterman, Lake Okeechobee, LNG, Martin County, PCB, Riviera Beach, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Where is FLiNG Energy and its “partners in Indiantown” that it expects to help it quadruple its LNG capacity in the first quarter of 2016? All along FPL’s pipeline to the sea, and PCBs, too. So convenient for LNG export from the proposed Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline!

FLiNG Energy lists its contact address as 15328 SW Warfield Blvd. Indiantown, FL 34956. That’s this unassuming storefront that google maps shows with “Indiantown Realty” on the front: Continue reading Where are Floridian LNG and FLiNG Energy? →

Ohio town fracked by well leak

May 11, 2014Environment, Ethics, Fracking, Law, Morgan County, Ohio, Safety, WaterBeverly, Center for Health, CHEJ, clear and present danger, Colorado, drilling, environment, Environment & Justice, Ethics, fix, fossil fuel, Fracking, GA DNR, Jack Shaner, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lois Gibbs, Mark Bruce, methane, Morgan County, mud, needle, ODNR, Ohio, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Council, oil, PDC Energy, Petroleum Development Corporation, property rights, regulations, rules, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Superfund, Teresa Mills, Water, wellJohn S. Quarterman

A fossil fuel needle desperately trying to get another fix hit an artery and leaked oily mud and methane into a creek near Beverly, Ohio, forcing evacuation of people nearby. Once again, state agencies had to deal with a problem caused by a private company. This collateral damage drew in yet another fracking opponent, this time one founded by an opponent of the first Superfund.

Dean Narciso wrote for the Columbus Dispatch 8 May 2014, Shale well leaks during drilling process, forcing evacuations in Morgan County,

A Morgan County shale well being drilled in preparation for fracking began leaking on Sunday, forcing the evacuation of nearby residents.

State and federal environmental emergency-response teams and the drilling company finally contained the mess yesterday, but not before it reached a nearby creek.

The leak was discovered Continue reading Ohio town fracked by well leak →

What is FERC required to do?

May 5, 2014Economy, Environment, EPA, FERC, Law, LNG, LNGcertificate, DoJ, eminent domain, environment, EPA, FERC, LAS, Law, LNG, NEPA, policy, public benefit, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

What is FERC required to do to justifiy a pipeline certificate and eminent domain? John Peconom of FERC told me that federal eminent domain was justified by Florida needing the gas, therefore it was for the good of the United States. Peconom didn’t provide a reference, but FERC’s own documents say FERC is supposed to balance public benefits, which means somebody has to demonstrate those public benefits. Also, one-time payments to landowners may not be enough.

In FERC’s own Natural Gas Environmental Guidelines, GUIDANCE MANUAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT PREPARATION, Continue reading What is FERC required to do? →

Stop the Sabal Trail Pipeline –Billboard in Valdosta

May 5, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Georgia, Lowndes County, SafetyAlabama, Economy, environment, Florida, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Lowndes County, Safety, SpectraBusters, Valdosta, WACEJohn S. Quarterman

Stop the Sabal Trail Pipeline, says the billboard on Bemiss Road in Valdosta, reports Michael G. Noll. This billboard was organized by WACE. Continue reading Stop the Sabal Trail Pipeline –Billboard in Valdosta →

The Koch Attack on Solar Energy

May 4, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Georgia, SolarAgenda 21, Alabama, Economy, environment, Florida, Georgia, incentives, John S. Quarterman, Koch Brothers, New York Times, solar, SpectraBusters, surtax, SustainableJohn S. Quarterman

Fossil fuel companies are already feeling the sting of the exponential growth of solar power, doubling every couple of years, up 400% since 2010. Some of them are counter-attacking by trying to impose a surtax on solar power.

The Editorial Board of the New York Times wrote 26 April 2014, The Koch Attack on Solar Energy,

David Horsey, Los Angeles Times, 23 April 2014
At long last, the Koch brothers and their conservative allies in state government have found a new tax they can support. Naturally it’s a tax on something the country needs: solar energy panels.

For the last few months, the Kochs and other big polluters have been spending heavily to fight incentives for renewable energy, which have been adopted by most states. They particularly dislike state laws that allow homeowners with solar panels to sell power they don’t need back to electric utilities. So they’ve been pushing legislatures to impose a surtax on this increasingly popular practice, hoping to make installing solar panels on houses less attractive.

Oklahoma lawmakers recently Continue reading The Koch Attack on Solar Energy →