Category Archives: Ethics

Sabal Trail surveyed without permission –Beth Gordon on WCBJ TV

October 26, 2014Alachua County, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Law, Levy County, LNG, PHMSA, SafetyAlachua County, Beth Gordon, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, FPL, John S. Quarterman, Law, Levy County, LNG, petition, PHMSA, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, surveyJohn S. Quarterman

Beth Gordon told a Gainesville, FL TV reporter 1500 feet from her home is still too close for the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline. And since they moved it off her property, they won’t entertain any compensation. Same for you, if a pipeline blows up in your county or state like one did in neighboring Gilchrist County, Florida in 2012: you get no compensation, but your taxes may have to pay for emergency responders, hospitals, etc.

Jesse Pagan reported Wednesday 22 October 2014 for WCJB TV, Natural Gas Pipeline Concerns, Levy County,

“It would destroy the whole way of life here in Levy County.”
“I never gave them permission, yet I came home one day and they’d cut into my locked gate. I don’t know how they did it. I think they climbed over my fence. There were surveyor stakes all over my property.
First they wanted to put it on my property. Now they’ve moved it onto the farm next door.

The reporter said that’s about 1500 feet from her property, “Too close for her comfort.”

“And because the property isn’t physically right on our property, they will not entertain payment for it.

The reporter mentioned her petition to the Florida Public Service Commission (FL-PSC) Continue reading Sabal Trail surveyed without permission –Beth Gordon on WCBJ TV →

Sabal Trail to TECO to Jaxport for LNG export?

October 18, 2014Alabama, Duval County, EPA, Ethics, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, LNG, PoliticsAlabama, campaign, contribution, Duval County, EPA, Ethics, FGT, Florida, FPL, Fracking, Georgia, Gulfstream, Jacksonville, Jaxport, John S. Quarterman, LNG, LNG export, Nathan Deal, Politics, Rick Scott, Robert Bentley, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sempra Energy, SONAT, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tampa, TECOJohn S. Quarterman

Marcellus Shale fracked methane through Atlantic Sunrise to Transco to Sabal Trail to TECO to Jaxport for LNG export? And maybe an explanation for why Sempra Energy, like Spectra Energy, donated to both GA Gov. Nathan Deal’s and AL Gov. Robert Bentley’s re-election campaigns. Sempra apparently wants to export Marcellus Shale gas from Jacksonville, and Sabal Trail is the proposed conduit for that through Alabama and Georgia to Florida.

John Burr wrote for Jacksonville Business Journal 10 March 2014, TECO Peoples Gas looks to expand natural gas pipeline to Jacksonville, Continue reading Sabal Trail to TECO to Jaxport for LNG export? →

FSC formally filed for FERC permit 26 September 2014

October 10, 2014Ethics, FERC, LNGCP14-554-000, Ethics, FERC, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, FSC, John S. Quarterman, LNG, LNG export, NextEra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

FERC got around to posting that online and sending an alert to ecomment subscribers today, two weeks later. You or your group can now file as an intervenor for FSC under the new docket CP14-554-000. Or you can ecomment under that docket. Sabal Trail and Transco have not yet filed for formal permitting, but Sabal Trail has repeatedly said it plans to do so 31 October 2014.

Here’s HTML of that notice letter. Search for CP14-554-000 in FERC’s General Search and you’ll find a large number of PDF and other files, many marked “Availability: Privileged”, as in this pipeline or Sabal Trail or Transco may gouge through your back yard or under your river, going right to three already-authorized LNG export operations in Florida, but you don’t get to see FPL’s rationalizations for why. Maybe if those rationalizations were public, they’d stink even more.

To get alerts on the formal filing, you’ll need to log in (or register first) with FERC and subscribe to docket CP14-554.

-jsq

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Florida Southeast Connection, LLC Docket No. CP14-554-000
PF14-2-000

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
Continue reading FSC formally filed for FERC permit 26 September 2014 →

Albany Herald breaks GA Gov. Deal Spectra campaign contributions

October 4, 2014Alabama, Dougherty County, Ethics, Florida, Georgia, Politics, Tennessee, TexasAlabama, Bill Haslam, conflict of interest, corruption, Dougherty County, Ethics, Florida, Georgia, Houston, John S. Quarterman, Michelle Nunn, Nathan Deal, Politics, Rick Scott, Robert Bentley, Sabal Trail Transmission, scandal, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tennessee, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

The Deal campaign not only accepted Spectra’s PAC money, but then tried to claim (incorrectly) that Michelle Nunn’s campaign for U.S. Senate also accepted Spectra PAC money: so Deal’s campaign took Spectra’s money and then told an untruth about who else might have. The best Spectra’s Andrea Grover could come up with was “economic development”; nevermind Sabal Trail would use out-of-state crews to install its fracked methane pipeline, it would bring almost no jobs to Georgia, and it isn’t even selling gas to Georgia. Neither even tried to implicate Jason Carter’s campaign for governor, because Carter’s campaign finance filings show zero contributions from Spectra’s PAC. The incumbent governors of Alabama and Tennessee, however, did take money from Spectra’s PAC.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s campaign accepts contributions from Spectra Energy: Houston energy giant says its PAC contributes to campaigns of candidates who favor economic development, Continue reading Albany Herald breaks GA Gov. Deal Spectra campaign contributions →

Make Sabal Trail resurvey all the properties –Bill Kendall

September 30, 2014Alabama, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Georgia, History, Law, Lowndes CountyAlabama, Bill Kendall, eminent domain, Ethics, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, FPL, GA EPD, GDOT, Georgia, History, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lowndes County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, STTJohn S. Quarterman

Update 27 October 2014: Added page 3 FERC had omitted, about lack of need, most property owners already have a pipeline, explosions, false pretense, and duress.

Because of the last point about Nathan Deal, several people brought this ecomment to my attention today. Its main request is for FERC to vacate surveys taken through permission obtained through misleading letters, and make Sabal Trail resurvey only those properties whose landowners give permission after being informed important information such as that Sabal Trail cannot use Georgia eminent domain.

Actually, the Lowndes County government got a letter from Sabal Trail 19 June 2013, even earlier than the ones noted below. Also, the point about Delays I haven’t seen before, especially combined with the point about harm to landowners. The date of formation reaches its punchline two pages later in reputation. I added the links and images. Filed with FERC 30 September 2014.

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary; FERC;
Concerning PF14-1

On December 19, 2012, Florida Power & Light, hereafter referred to as FPL. issued a Request For Proposal with a deadline of April 3, 2013 ((A) see attached Florida PSC report), to construct a natural gas pipeline from Southwest central Alabama to South central Florida a distance of some 700 miles and completely by-passing Georgia ((B) see attached FPL map).
Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC, hereafter referred to as STT, changed the FPL route, at their discretion, Continue reading Make Sabal Trail resurvey all the properties –Bill Kendall →

Four hours of overwhelming public opposition shrugged off by Sabal Trail and FERC in Albany, GA

September 30, 2014Compressor, Dougherty County, Ethics, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, LawAGAST, Albany, Albany Georgia Against Sabal Trail, Andrea Grover, compressor, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, Ed Gonzalez, Environment Safety, Ethics, FERC, Gary Hall, Georgia, Gloria Gaines, Hazards, John Peconom, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

FERC’s reps said their five Commissioners would decide in about a year, and Sabal Trail said they’d tune details and “educate the public” about the alleged “need” and “jobs” and “environmental safety” of their yard-wide fracked methane pipeline gouged through a hundred-foot right of way plus a compressor station. The public wasn’t having any of that in Albany, Georgia yesterday.

Update 30 Sep 2014: But that very same day, FERC rubberstamped Cove Point LNG in Maryland after “more than 140 speakers at three public meetings related to the Environmental Assessment and received more than 650 comments”, and that’s what we’re going to get with Sabal Trail, unless our elected and appointed officials go beyond talk and pass binding ordinances, deny permits, and countersue.

Franklin White for WFXL 29 Sep 2014, Public information meeting held for proposed pipeline.
Aaryn Valenzuela for WALB 29 Sep 2014, Citizens brave rain for pipeline meeting
Carlton Fletcher wrote for the Albany Herald 29 September 2014, Public forum offers Dougherty County community opportunity to discuss pipeline: Federal, state officials on hand for public discussion of proposed pipeline, Continue reading Four hours of overwhelming public opposition shrugged off by Sabal Trail and FERC in Albany, GA →

Spectra Energy and gas pipeline campaign contributions to GA Gov. Nathan Deal

September 19, 2014Alabama, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, LNG, Louisiana, Tennessee, TexasAECOM, Alabama, Bill Haslam, California, Colorado, Consolidated Pipe & Supply Company, Ernst & Young, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Jason Carter, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Louisiana, Mark Udall, Mary Landrieu, Mexico, Nathan Deal, NextEra, Rick Scott, Robert J. Bentley, Sempra, SpectraBusters, Tennessee, TexasJohn S. Quarterman

Tied for number 3 and receiving $10,000 in 2014 Top Vendors/Recipients from Spectra Energy according to OpenSecrets.org: Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia, where Spectra wants to gouge a 100-foot right of way for its 36-inch fracked methane Sabal Trail pipeline. Actually, Nathan Deal’s campaign committee has accepted at least $21,300 from natural gas pipeline companies, including $15,000 from companies that build LNG export terminals (Sempra and AECOM) or that build pipelines to LNG export terminals (Spectra and AECOM). and $6,300 from an Alabama pipeline supply company (Consolidated Pipe & Supply Company).

Tied with Deal for third and also receiving $10,000 from Spectra:

Governor Robert J. Bentley of Alabama, where the Sabal Trail pipeline starts, connecting to Williams Transco’s Hillabee Expansion Project, which along with Sabal Trail and FSC forms the Southeast Market Expansion Project.
Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee, where Spectra wants to start its same-size Renaissance Pipeline to run through northeast Alabama and north Georgia past Atlanta.

Let’s look at candidate Nathan Deal’s most recent Georgia campaign contribution disclosure report contributions, for June 30th 2014: Continue reading Spectra Energy and gas pipeline campaign contributions to GA Gov. Nathan Deal →

OpEd: Spectra Energy: Trust Facts Not Promises –Mike Benard

September 10, 2014Bedford County, Compressor, Connecticut, Ethics, Law, New York, PennsylvaniaAlgonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline, Andrea Grover, compressor, Connecticut, Ethics, Law, Marylee Hanley, Mike Benard, New York, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Shale Property Rights, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Steckman Ridge, transparencyJohn S. Quarterman

By Mike Benard today in the Peekskill, NY Daily Voice. -jsq

OpEd: Spectra Energy: Trust Facts Not Promises,

Speaking from experience with Spectra Energy, property owners and communities can expect the company (NYSE: SE) will not do what it says it will in terms of transparency and accountability; and the company will develop amnesia when questioned about its actual track record relating to safety and federal fines.

Managing by fact is simple. If communities and local governments want to know what to expect from Spectra Energy, ask folks who live with its facilities today.

For example, property owners in Bedford County, Pa. (about Continue reading OpEd: Spectra Energy: Trust Facts Not Promises –Mike Benard →

Video: LNG exports are because of fracking methane glut –Chief of LNG-export-approving Office of Fossil Energy

September 7, 2014Ethics, FE, Law, LNGBill Huston, Ethics, FE, Government, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Paula Gant, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

See the head of DoE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) spell out that fracking has caused a glut of metane and the fossil fuel industry wants to market it by exporting it, in a hearing about H.R. 6, which would authorize LNG exports to all 159 WTO member countries.

William Huston commented September 6, 2014 at 11:23 pm:

Great article, thanks.
I found video of Dr. Gant’s testimony. May want to embed this in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esLENoz2bG4

Continue reading Video: LNG exports are because of fracking methane glut –Chief of LNG-export-approving Office of Fossil Energy →

Nova Scotia to ban fracking

September 4, 2014Ethics, Fracking, New Brunswick, Nova ScotiaAndrew Young, Ethics, Fracking, Government, John S. Quarterman, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Nova Scotia is banning fracking. Onshore, but not offshore, and not pipelines. But at least the Nova Scotia government listened to environmentalists, the grassroots, and rural people about that much. Will our local and state governments listen about the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline?

Bruce Erskine wrote for The Herald Business 3 September 2014, Nova Scotia to ban fracking, Continue reading Nova Scotia to ban fracking →

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