Category Archives: Lowndes County

Hike With Congressman Ted Yoho & The Truth Behind What is Driving the Push to Install Sabal Trail Pipeline

Congressman Yoho with Deanna and Chris Mericle Speaking before the hike of Sabal Trail Pipeline Route at Suwannee River State Park in which he saw the omissions of sinkholes by Sabal Trail from their EIS used to receive permit to bore under the Suwannee River
Congressman Yoho with Deanna and Chris Mericle Speaking before the hike of Sabal Trail Pipeline Route at Suwannee River State Park

Here is the detailed story and videos of what Ted Yoho FL-03 and others,  saw,  heard and said on the hike where Sabal Trail proposes to drill under the Suwannee River as well as a new development.  Rep. Sanford Bishop GA-02,  has sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers asking for a SEIS without even attending this hike or witnessing the sinkholes and other karst topology ‘omitted’ by Sabal Trail’s EIS  which was used to receive a  FERC and FDEP permit.  Rep. Bishop obviously has the common sense to realize that a 36″ high pressure fracked gas line to export natural gas to other countries for the profit of Big Oil, through one of the world’s largest karst (sinkhole) prone areas, which also happens to be THE major recharge/discharge zone for the Floridan Aquifer is a very bad idea.  Especially since the Sabal Trail Pipeline (subsidiary LLC of Spectra Energy) is crossing Florida’s sole source of water for millions of  citizens in Florida and Georgia,  is unnecessary and very dangerous.

We’re still waiting for  Congressman Ted Yoho of FLA district 03, to make this a bi-partisan bi-state coalition, as he promised, by asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), BEFORE Spectra Energy’s lobbyist, Steve Tillman, met with our Congressman representing us in Washington.

Please click here for contact info by state for you to contact the Army Corps of Engineers and request for a SEIS on the Sabal Trail Pipeline to be initiated and sign a quick and easy petition asking Congress for the same by Gulf Restoration Network.

The Hike At Suwannee River State Park Proposed Pipeline Crossing
Just one of the active sinkholes in the Sabal Trail pipeline Route @ Suwannee River
Just one of the active sinkholes in the Sabal Trail pipeline Route @ Suwannee River

On May 15, 2016,  representatives of nine environmental groups, some from as far away as Washington, DC,  geologist Dennis Price, Suwannee County BOCC member Clyde Fleming,  and other officials as well as concerned citizens from Florida and Georgia met with elected officials, including  US Congressman Ted Yoho at Suwannee River State Park to discuss the omissions and discrepancies, discovered by Chris Mericle of WWALS, in Sabal Trail Transmission LLC’s Environmental Impact Study (EIS).  Chris Mericle and geologist Dennis Price led the hike of the pipeline route on the Hamilton County side of the Suwannee to allow these officials and others to see for themselves the numerous sinkholes in and around the pipeline route as well as answer questions from Congressman Ted Yoho (see his videoed response later in this article) as well as other officials and concerned individuals.

Falmouth’s Cathedral Cave System & It’s Endangerment
Active Sinkhole Between Pilgrims Pride and Falmouth Springs Just off HWY 90 where Sabal Trail plans to bore under hwy and cross Falmouth Cathedral Cave system
Active Sinkhole Between Pilgrims Pride and Falmouth Springs Just off HWY 90 where Sabal Trail plans to bore under hwy and cross Falmouth Cathedral Cave system

One other very important discrepancy was the Falmouth Cathedral Cave System which Sabal Trail claims is 100′ underground, a trip to Falmouth springs will show you that is more like 30′.  Dye tests put in at Falmouth have shown this cave system is a network of underground caves that are connected to Lime Run Spring and other springs at the Suwannee River State Park.  This cave system will be crossed at Hwy 90 just 100 or less feet from Pilgrim’s Pride and about 1/4 mile or so from Falmouth Springs.  Sabal Trail plans on jacking up the highway and boring their pipeline underneath atop the Falmouth Cathedral Cave system which is part of our aquifer.  See this picture to the right here which shows a sinkhole right off highway 90 that is 50 to 75′ across and at least 30 feet deep.  To the left of this pictured sinkhole is another in the making which is holding some water but the clay plug could go at anytime.

As John Quarterman, President of WWALS  the nominal host for this event stated before

John Quarterman President of WWALS
John Quarterman President of WWALS

the hike to Congressman Yoho our main objective is:

“What we’re hoping for is a bipartisan bi-state coalition to ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to open a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) …. A lot of it has been ignored by Sabal Trail, rejected by FERC, or not even listened to by FERC.”

“Rep. Bishop GA-02 did write a letter to the Corps asking for a SEIS. We’re still hoping for  letters from Ted Yoho FL-03,  Austin Scott GA-08,  and others.” – jsq

Governor Scott’s self appointed Florida DEP administrators signed off on the Sabal Trail Pipeline based on Sabal Trail’s EIS that got them the Florida permit and FDEP admitted  they have never visited the river crossing  in Administrative Court by these same administrators.  In other words FDEP signed off on Sabal Trail Pipeline’s own Environmental Study without ever doing their job which is to protect Florida’s environment.  Why?  Well it appears Governor Rick Scott is invested in Spectra Energy and thus this pipeline as was reported in The Florida Bulldog (formerly The Broward Bulldog).  Story found here:

Governor Scott’s Investments in Spectra Energy & More

When is a supplement – SEIS – to the EIS required?

A supplement to a draft or final EIS (is required when any of the following occurs:

  • An agency makes substantial changes to the proposed action that are relevant to its environmental concerns.
  • There are significant new circumstances or information relevant to the environmental effects that have bearing on the proposed action or its impacts.

If an agency decides to supplement its EIS, it prepares, circulates and files the supplemental EIS in the same fashion as a draft or final EIS.

It is obvious that there are significant new circumstances or information relevant to the environmental effects that have bearing on the proposed action or its impacts concerning the Sabal Trail Pipeline.

A Simplified Explanation of a SEIS

“Think of our regulatory agencies (yes all of them, including the EPA, Army Corps and FERC) as the DMV.  It is always up to the person who wants the license or the “permit” to bring the documents needed to get their license, in this case Sabal Trail’s.  The DMV just tells Sabal Trail what documents they have to provide & then reviews them. 

Now if your insurance company (aka Gulf Restoration Network or whomever) tells the DMV, hey- this person is a risk and we can prove in these documents provided by our experts that what they are telling you is not true” the DMV reviews the two parties documents and decides who is right.  In this way the burden for providing evidence is always placed on the person asking for the permit,  or those who don’t want them to have it.  The burden is never on the DMV to do a 3rd “independent study” separately to show that the driver is safe, or that the insurance company is right for one drivers license request.  They just look at the documents in front of them.

With a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study we have the opportunity to be the insurance company to Sabal Trail, and tell the Army Corps that they are too big of a risk to be given a license.  AND if the Army Corps (aka the DMV) gives them the permit anyway, we can sue because we put it on the record that they knew about our concerns and didn’t make the right decision.”  —  Thank you to Johanna deGraffenreid of Gulf Restoration Network for this easy to understand explanation.

Geologist Dennis Price and another private geologist have done independent geological surveys of the pipeline route, to be bored 675′ off bank under the Suwannee River as has the individual who owns the property across the river where the pipeline will exit from underneath the river onto his property.  Their reports as well as what can be seen with the naked eye onsite contradict what Sabal Trail has submitted to FERC and FDEP to receive their permits,  that the closest sinkholes to the pipeline are 750′ away. They also omitted the fact there are karst fractures — future sinkholes.  You do not have to be a geologist to know that sinkholes are prevalent in Florida and especially in the Suwannee River area, as is flooding in Suwannee and all of the counties this pipeline and related compressor stations  will be located. In fact the Sabal Trail pipeline follows the USGS Map of Karst (sinkhole prone land in Florida) to the tee.

The Compressor Station in O’Brien Florida

Concerning the compressor stations — this one in O’Brein  (not in Hildreth as Sabal claims). Read this comment on the compressor station and pipeline by organic farm owner and IT professional David Shields:
“I moved here with my family from Jacksonville. Moved here to do organic farming…. Unfortunately perhaps going to be neighbors to a time bomb, or what they call a compressor station, built by Sabal Trail, so we’re obviously in opposition to that. We have quite a few children and being a quarter mile a way is not not exactly something we like to do, or anybody.”  Note that emissions from compressor stations have been shown to cause nosebleeds (caused by formaldehyde) which elevates blood pressure and a myriad of  additional health effects — especially with children.

The  Sabal Trail “Hildreth” compressor station is actually located in O’Brien 1/4 mile from residential communities.  Compressor stations not only emit dangerous chemicals into the  air ( benzene, formaldehyde) they also pollute the soil (thus groundwater) with methane and the toxic chemicals used to clean them. The pipeline and compressor station will use  millions of gallons of water to maintain and clean them both.  This is done on a regular basis.  Suwannee County cannot afford such high uses of valuable groundwater .

If this compressor station was to blow up, and Spectra Energy has had them do that,  it would wipe out everything within at least a half mile of it’s location.  Thus the Shields and all other residents in the area are in constant danger not only from the compressor station but also pipeline ruptures which with a pipeline that size – 36″ –  that Sabal Trail proposes is catastrophic. Everything within at least a mile of the pipeline would be destroyed as has been seen in recent pipeline ruptures which do not always include explosions but can hurl pipe from the pipeline at a great distance at times leaving craters the size of large meteorite activity.

Additionally this compressor station is not a small unit, it is a large compressor station that uses two large turbine units and is set for expansion to double it’s capacity by 2021.

The EIS  performed by Sabal Trail was used by the Federal Energy Commission (FERC), which is funded by the oil and gas pipeline industry,  and Florida Department of Environment (FDEP) to issue a permit for the Sabal Trail fracked liquid gas transmission pipeline to carry this gas to a new Central Florida Hub south of Orlando, Fla., where it will interconnect with the two existing natural gas pipelines that currently serve central and southern Florida and have NOT met capacity. – From FPL’s Website

FPL explains Sabal trail & Florida Southeast Connection

“Sabal Trail Transmission: Sabal Trail Transmission, a joint venture of Spectra Energy Corp. and NextEra Energy, Inc., will include approximately 465 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline that will originate in southwestern Alabama and transport natural gas to Georgia and Florida. It will terminate at a new Central Florida Hub south of Orlando, Fla., where it will interconnect with the two existing natural gas pipelines that currently serve central and southern Florida. The Sabal Trail pipeline will be capable of transporting more than 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to serve local distribution companies, industrial users and natural gas-fired power generators in the Southeast.”

“Florida Southeast Connection: Florida Southeast Connection, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy. To connect with FPL’s operations, Florida Southeast Connection will construct a separate, 126-mile pipeline from Sabal Trail’s Central Florida Hub to FPL’s Martin Clean Energy Center in Indiantown, Fla.

The two projects are expected to be completed and begin delivering natural gas to FPL’s system in May 2017. FPL will purchase approximately 400 million cubic feet per day beginning in 2017, and will increase to about 600 million cubic feet per day in 2020.

Central Florida Hub south of Orlando, Fla., where it will interconnect with the two existing natural gas pipelines that currently serve central and southern Florida. The Sabal Trail pipeline will be capable of transporting more than 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to serve local distribution companies, industrial users and natural gas-fired power generators in the Southeast.”

Now do you really think that the liquid natural gas difference between 600 million cubic feet and the 1 billion cubic feet per day  is  needed by south Florida industries? Perhaps these distribution centers FPL mentions on it’s website are actually the  export terminals that are already permitted to export natural gas to other countries such as South America, The Bahamas, etc. at five facilities including Jaxport. In fact in recent responses from Sabal Trail they have admitted the exporting of this fracked gas.
See Sabal Trail’s recent response to Rep. Bishop, WWALS, GRN, individuals and more here (click PDF file).

Sabal Trail Transmission LLC is owned by Spectra Energy.  NextEra (owner of FPL) and Duke Energy are also owners of Sabal Trail Transmission LLC which has no active board and one active corporate owner who is an employee of Spectra Energy.  Sabal Trail Transmission LLC will be defunct as a company when the pipeline is finished with Spectra Energy taking over as operator of this pipeline. Spectra Claims they monitor their pipelines 24/7, yet they did not detect their pipeline rupture in May of 2015 under the Arkansas River.  It was not reported until a tugboat operator reported damage to his boat to the coast guard over 24 hours later.  His tugboat was damaged by a pipeline casing that contained evidence of charred cement indicating an explosion.

Spectra Energy has one of the worst EPA violation records in history including spills of PCBS and other deadly toxins. Spectra Energy has been fined by the pipeline regulatory agency PHMSA for poor or no maintenance practices involving ruptures under the Arkansas River – imagine that happening under the Suwannee River – and elsewhere. Spectra’s safety record is alarming to say the least AND they carry no insurance for accidents , leaks, ruptures, damages , lives — no insurance at all.  If this pipeline is installed we are on our own — period.

Ted Yoho Comments Before the Hike

An excerpt from the transcript of a video taken before the hike by John Quarterman of WWALS:

“You know, you guys have been great advocates against the trail coming through here, and I understand that and I hear you. I represent you guys. I don’t represent Spectra. And if your concerns and my concerns to are, when you drill under a river bed, even though they can tell me, it’s not going to cause a problem, I don’t know what’s under there. And my concern is like yours, if you drill under there, if you hit a karst, or you hit [a conduit] or close to one of those shoots going down in the limerock, what happens if you hit the wrong one. That’s my concern as yours is. Yes, I want the energy, but is there a better way to bring it in….

The thing is, we’re setting, this generation here, is setting, or making decisions that will affect Florida for 50, 60, 100 years. Let’s get it right, and I’ll work with you.”

Video of Ted Yoho After Suwannee River Crossing Hike With Transcript

Transcript of Ted Yoho Video

“Rep. Ted Yoho FL-03 turned to Chris Mericle and said:

And I want to thank you. You’ve been diligent, ever since I got into office, bringing this to our attention. And to see the discrepancies between what was reported and what we see first hand, I mean these are questions that have to be answered. And so we’ll fight to get those answers before it goes anywhere else. You have my commitment on that.

And, uh, we have to have that balance. Because I know not everybody thinks like I do, and I know people will say “thank God” [laughs]. But not everybody thinks the way you do. But in between we have to put that common goal. And it’s hard to find that common goal. It’s not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue, it’s an American issue. And it’s a Florida issue, and we have to make sure, like you said [gesturing at jsq], generations from now they’ll look back at us. And I want them to say, “you know what? those guys were smart; they did a good thing”.

I think that’s all of our goals, and so you have my commitment to make sure. And we’ll weigh in with you guys to let you know which way it’s going.

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson spoke up:

One more thing on that, we hope that you will take those letters that have already been written to the Army Corps of Engineers, that’s their next line. All we want are true environmental impact studies done, not the one…

Rep. Yoho interjected:

No, they need to be, though. Because I mean, that’s not a problem. We’ve got a great relationship with them and I’ll ask them. They were just up in our office and we’ll say we need to revisit this before we go any further.

Merrillee:

Thank you.

Rep. Yoho:

I’m real concerned about that.

John S. Quarterman added:

We have a letter drafted for you and Congressmen Scott and Bishop to consider.

Ted Yoho:

Is it in the package you gave me?

jsq:

It’s in the bus, I’ll get it for you, and I’ll send you the PDF.

Rep. Yoho:

Yeah, make sure we get it. We have a great team of people that work with us up there, and and we’ll make sure we weigh in on it properly.”

Ted Yoho Meets With Spectra Energy Lobbyist & Does a 360 – His press Release on May 18, 2016

Yoho Statement on Proposed Sabal Trail Pipeline
May 18, 2016  Press Release
Washington D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL-03) released the following statement on the proposed Sabal Trail pipeline:
“After reviewing the multiple studies performed by the geological engineers and reading the reports and opinions of the many agencies involved in the permitting of the Sabal Trail pipeline, I believe the questions and concerns involving the pipeline have been answered satisfactorily.
“When infrastructure projects are proposed, much anxiety develops. To give the appropriate authorities the opportunity to put these fears to easy, projects like this take a long time to get approval.
“After the required hearings, studies, engineering testing, and comment periods, multiple agencies (such as EPA, Federal EPA, State EPA, FERC, NEPA, Army Corp and a host of other agencies) can weigh in and approve the project. This process should give all concerned a certain level of comfort and trust. After all, these agencies provide the most stringent reviewers of any project.
“I believe the Sabal Trail organization has met these criteria. It has already under gone Administrative court reviews and has satisfied these reviews. Therefore, we should feel more than confident that this pipeline has met the highest standards.
“Once completed, this project will help fulfill the future requirements of Florida’s growing energy needs for years to come while protecting our sensitive environment.”

Marihelen Wheeler Gainesville candidate for Florida House District 21, Hamilton County BOCC's Beth Burnam, Jean Dierker and Maryvonee Devensky of Sierra Club, Merrilee Jipson, Jim Tatum, Eileen Box, Janet Barrow and more listen to Yoho speak
Marihelen Wheeler Gainesville candidate for Florida House District 21, Hamilton County BOCC’s Beth Burnam, Jean Dierker and Maryvonee Devensky of Sierra Club, Merrilee Jipson, Jim Tatum, Eileen Box, Janet Barrow and more listen to Yoho speak

Now all was not lost at this meeting and on this hike despite Congressman Yoho reversing his stance after meeting with Spectra Energy International’s Lobbyist,  we experienced a well organized and beautiful meeting and hike with a group of other officials including  Marihelen Wheeler Gainesville candidate for Florida House District 21, Jerry Bullard of Jasper Hamilton County candidate for Florida House District 10, Mary Louise Hester regional director in Tallahassee for Senator Bill Nelson, Noah Valenstein  Director of SRWMD, Clyde Fleming Suwannee County Commissioner, Beth Burnham Hamilton County Commissioner and 40 or so like minded people who all care about Florida’s present resources and the state of those resources we leave for the next seven generations.  Thank you to all of you who took the time on a Sunday

Candidate Jerry Bullard for District 10 (foreground) and SRWMD Director Noah Valenstein and more listen to Yoho speak
Candidate Jerry Bullard for District 10 (foreground) and SRWMD Director Noah Valenstein and more listen to Yoho speak

morning, especially Suwannee BOCC official Clyde Fleming, to let our voices be heard and show what SBOCC, Hamilton County BOCC have already seen the ‘omissions’  and ‘discrepancies’ on this pipeline route.  Both counties have written letters to the Army Corps Of Engineers asking for a SEIS before this pipeline is allowed to proceed.  Marion County also has requested a SEIS due to ‘omissions’ and ‘discrepancies’ in  Sabal Trail’s EIS concerning the Marion County area.

Thank you to Thomas Lynn reporter for the Suwannee Democrat and Jake Galvin reporter for the Florida Bulldog for attending and reporting on this event

Jake stayed with us all day accompanying us on a trip to Falmouth to discuss the Falmouth Cathedral Cave System which extends to Suwannee River State Park and to the site by Pilgrims Pride site where the Sabal Trail pipeline (pictured above) will be bored under HWY 90 just around 70 feet from a 50′ wide and at least 30′ deep active sinkhole.

Here are very inspiring videos of that day on the beautiful Suwannee River:

Bobby C. Billie, spiritual and family leader of the Independent Miccosukee Simanolee Nation, A Beautiful Prayer in His Native Tongue

Wise and Noteworthy Comments by Jennifer Rubiello, Dennis Price & John Quarterman

Complete videos of meeting & hike with transcripts posted @ WWALS

Florida’s Economy Will be Impacted By Sabal Trail & Other Pipelines As Property Values Will Decrease & Florida’s Resources

This battle to protect our water, resources and very lives is not over.  Suwannee, Hamilton, and Marion counties have sent letters to Army Corps of Engineers to ask for a SEIS rather than have an industry company, Sabal Trail,  do it’s own study. That is like the fox watching the hen house.  With FERC funded by the same industry it regulates as well as our own Governor Scott being personally invested in the Sabal Trail pipeline AND the man who is responsible for hiring the people at FDEP as well as all  Florida agencies —  you can bet our safety and well being have not even been considered.  This project will bring zero long term jobs with very few low paying jobs, as Spectra and Sabal Trail will bring their own crews out of Texas to lay the pipeline.  Local jobs will be limited to food service, some paving, rock hauling etc. and will only last about 60 days, if that,  before the crews move on and temporary local jobs end.  Again our governor attempts to line his pockets  — his wealth has skyrocketed ever since he took office  — all on the backs of people desperate for work who only seem to get minimum wage jobs with no health insurance.

Florida is an unique and ecologically sensitive state whose economy depends upon mostly tourism and ecotourism.   For instance Suwannee River State Park where Sabal Trail proposes to bore under the Suwannee River putting the prings there as well as all outdoor activities at risk.  The report Outdoor Recreation and Trails states, according to the Florida Outdoor Recreation Economy Report, consumers spent $38.3 Billion last year, creating nearly 330,000 jobs, generated more than $2.5 Billion in State and local taxes as well as $10.7 billion in wages.  The Sabal Trail Pipeline will not even touch these figures in jobs, taxes or consumer spending.  In fact if this pipeline is allowed to be installed, there are more pipelines already planned throughout the state, including a Kinder Morgan gas pipeline to run from Tampa area carrying Sabal Trail Fracked gas to export out of Jacksonville which is crossing near the Ichetucknee and Sante Fe Rivers in Gilchrist, Suwannee and Columbia counties. This is not taking into account the fracking that the oil industry is pushing with the blessings of our oil/gas invested Governor and his self appointed agencies.

Let us not let Florida become like Pennsylvania and the other beautiful states ruined by the unnecessary fracking and pipeline industries. Our mainstay for our economy, tourism, will see a drop, there has already has seen a drop last year as natural resources such as springs,  beaches, and other one of a kind natural resources are ruined beyond repair by the oil and gas industry (BP Oil Spill) and lack of adequate protections by our state government. Imagine Florida crisscrossed with gas /oil pipelines, roads with bomb trucks and train bombs on both coasts and it’s ports filled with dangerous gas export terminals …. or imagine an economy based on natural wonders seen nowhere else.  An economy that is safe for the people and the environment as our natural treasures – springs, rivers, waterways and Floridan Aquifer are protected not exploited.  Let us not sit back and watch as oil companies come for our resources much like carpetbaggers for THEIR profit alone leaving our one of a kind state in ruins.

What can YOU Do?

First please contact your Army Corps of Engineers in your state to request that a Supplemental Environmental Study be performed before they issue a permit for the pipeline and then please sign the petition linked below to contact Congress to ask them for a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study.
Florida ACE office contact:
U.S.A.C.E.,
Jacksonville District Reg. Div.
Jacksonville Permits Section
Attn: Mr. Mark R. Evans
P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232

Georgia ACE contact:
Commander, U.S.A.C.E.,
Savannah District
Attn: Mr. Terry C. Kobs
1104 N. Westover Boulevard, Unit 9
Albany, GA 31707

Alabama ACE Contact:
U.S.A.C.E.
Mobile District Reg. Div.
Montgomery Field Office
Attn: Mr. James S. Cherry II
605 Maple Street
Building 1429 Room 105
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6017

Link to online petition by GRN to Congress asking for a SEIS:

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50843/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18160

Note US congress is responsible for disbursing oil/ gas industry funds to FERC

Get involved and educate yourself.  Contact your legislators especially here in Florida and let them know that you oppose the Sabal Trail pipeline, any other pipeline or other activity  such as fracking, that would disturb Florida’s limestone based land and connected aquifer. The Floridan Aquifer of which 97% of it’s recharge/discharge zone is located in Suwannee County Fla.  A county that Sabal Trail/Spectra Energy has included in all 12 of it’s pipeline route plans.

Ask questions, visit http://spectrabusters.org and read the history of this pipeline saga.  We are available to answer your questions, please send email to the SpectraBusters contact address: spectrabusters@gmail.com

There are a growing number of individuals and groups that are fighting this and other CONNECTING pipelines to export fracked gas all over the USA to other countries for oil/gas company profits at a very high cost to the people as methane leaks have been found to cause a much higher carbon issue than any other fuel and have been under reported as can be seen in this press release about the pending legal action against a high ranking EPA official who purposely caused an under reporting of these leaks on behalf of the -oil and gas industry.

Florida  — The Sunshine State — is one of only four states that does not allow Solar Power freedom to it’s citizens.  If you have read this far then you know why.  Be sure and vote NO on amendment one — the fake solar amendment put on the Aug 30 ballot by Florida’s monopoly utility companies and the Koch Brother’s  –  and YES on amendment 4, written by the Florida legislator to remove tax barriers for those who wish to install Solar power. Let us take Florida out of the dark ages and into the light as our neighboring state Georgia has — they are #1 in solar power growth.

Also support Floridians for Solar Choice by gathering petitions to put an amendment on the 2018 ballot for the right to decide where you buy your power from. Energy freedom and Energy Democracy for Florida’s citizens.

Remember the legacy we leave our children, their children and so forth is for at least seven generations.  Let us have them say we did the right thing by them.

~~ Deb

Sabal Trail wants to proceed

In a letter Sabal Trail sent to multiple Florida county commissions, the most important point is “We… are on track to place the pipeline in-service by May 1, 2017.” Important to Spectra Energy, because if they slip that date they could forfeit a $200 million bond and possibly the contract for the project, and they’re having some problems with that, since despite what they imply they do not have all the permits they need.

Then there are those glossed over in passing, such as “with certain conditions” and Continue reading Sabal Trail wants to proceed

Videos: Citizens against Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail pipeline to FERC in Albany, Moultrie, Valdosta, and Lake City

Citizens renamed Sabal Trail the Sinkhole Pipeline because it doesn’t belong in the sinkhole-prone karst limestone of the Floridan Aquifer. FERC can’t say they weren’t told, since videographers followed them through all four cities so far; see for yourself.

Albany, Monday 28 September 2015, videos by Thomas Swain

Moultrie, Tuesday 29 September 2015, videos by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE)

“You tell us you’re sorry and it happens again”, said Continue reading Videos: Citizens against Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail pipeline to FERC in Albany, Moultrie, Valdosta, and Lake City

Citizens oppose Sabal Trail in Albany, Moultrie, and Valdosta this week –WTOC, Albany, GA

Property rights, environment, health, and safety are why citizens oppose Sabal Trail, including tonight in Albany or Tuesday in Moultrie or Wednesday in Valdosta. Be sure to show up by 5:30 PM to sign up to speak.

Caitlyn Chastain, WTOC, 28 September 2015, Public meetings ahead for Sabal Trail Pipeline, starting today,

It’s a project that has gained a lot of attention and a lot of criticism.

Many people are concerned Continue reading Citizens oppose Sabal Trail in Albany, Moultrie, and Valdosta this week –WTOC, Albany, GA

Call DNR board before Wednesday to stop river land giveaway to Sabal Trail

Leases and permanent easements to cross the Chattahoochee River, Flint River, Ochlockonee River, and Withlacoochee River: that’s what the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Board proposes to vote on this Wednesday morning, in Atlanta, far from any of the proposed crossings or the directly affected counties, with no publ ic hearing and minimal public announcement. You can call them or send them email to ask them not to do that. Or show up in Atlanta 9AM Wednesday 23 September 2015 and speak; bring a written statement if you do that. Atlanta metro people, we need you to go to that meeting!

Agenda at this link. DNR board list at this link. DNR didn’t supply any contact information for its board members, but DNR’s own contact is: Continue reading Call DNR board before Wednesday to stop river land giveaway to Sabal Trail

New sinkhole in Lowndes County terrain Sabal Trail wants to gouge through

Twice in five years a sinkhole big enough to risk rerouting a road appears in Lowndes County, Georgia, in the same fragile karst limestone Valdosta limesink terrain Sabal Trail proposes to gouge through What if a sinkhole drops under that pipeline, and, like FGT in 2013, Sabal Trail declares force majeure and doesn’t pay?

See On the LAKE Front, 2015-08-06, County and news media digging deeper on Shiloh sinkhole story, Continue reading New sinkhole in Lowndes County terrain Sabal Trail wants to gouge through

Sabal Trail as environmental and property rights issue @ LCDP 2015-06-01

SpectraBusters board member Debra Johnson will be a panelist at the June 1st Lowndes County Democratic Party monthly meeting about environmental issues and property rights, 6PM 1 June 2015, at the Lowndes County Board of Elections office, 2808 North Oak Street, Valdosta, Georgia. This topic obviously includes among other issues the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline. Other panelists will be from the Lowndes County Commission, WWALS, WACE, and SAVE.

Anyone can speak up from the audience, and local TV covered Continue reading Sabal Trail as environmental and property rights issue @ LCDP 2015-06-01

Video dramatization of landowner receiving Sabal Trail eminent domain threatening letter

Lowndes County citizen Larry Rodgers received this letter from Sabal Trail as dramatized in this video, which also contains many “Pipeline? No!” signs with spectrabusters.org on them, thanks to WACE. That letter and a response by Larry Rodgers’ attorney Bill Langdale are included with the SpectraBusters letter to the judge in Leesburg, GA, where Sabal Trail is demanding eminent domain authority against other landowners, and those landowners are countersuing for criminal trespass. Continue reading Video dramatization of landowner receiving Sabal Trail eminent domain threatening letter

Sabal Trail repeatedly sent letters to landowners claiming Georgia eminent domain authority –SpectraBusters to judge

SpectraBusters sent examples of Sabal Trail’s many threats of eminent domain, in this letter to Leesburg for the ongoing eminent domain and criminal trespass trial.

300x388 Standing, in Sb leesburg, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 31 March 2015

Re: Case number 14CV208RS
Judge Rucker Smith

To: Cindy Clark
Civil Deputy Clerk
County Courthouse
100 Leslie Highway
Leesburg, Georgia 31763

If it please the court,

SpectraBusters, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit corporation with board members and other participants in all three states directly affected by the Sabal Trail proposed pipeline: Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The SpectraBusters board voted Monday March 30th 2015 to send this letter to the court to express our concerns about Sabal Trail’s attempts to claim Georgia eminent domain long before it tried to claim customers in Georgia, as well as possible ill effects throughout the pipeline route, especially in Georgia, if the judge were to rule in this case for application of Georgia eminent domain. Even with Sabal Trail’s claimed agreement with the Metropolitan Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG), Sabal Trail is still “a long way” Continue reading Sabal Trail repeatedly sent letters to landowners claiming Georgia eminent domain authority –SpectraBusters to judge

Georgia has no use for new pipelines –AJC

Four pipeline projects surround Atlanta, and Georgia’s governor won’t comment. Spectra’s Andrea Grover did, though, saying the Albany compressor station would be no louder than “a modern-day dishwasher.”

Dan Chapman, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3 April 2015, Pipeline project fuels fight on state’s future,

VALDOSTA — Southwest Georgia is roiling mad over a proposed gas pipeline to Florida that virtually nobody in Atlanta, except Ted Turner, has heard about.


John Carlton looks over a gopher tortoise hole a few feet away from a 1954 easement for an 8 inch natural gas line on his property at Morrison Pines Plantation in Moultrie. The planned Sabel Trail pipeline would run 50 feet over from the existing line. Carlton is undecided on the proposal.
Photograph credit: Curtis Compton, AJC

Electric Power & Light has more of the text: Continue reading Georgia has no use for new pipelines –AJC