Category Archives: Georgia

Spectra sales and Lowndes County Commission tonight

The Lowndes County Commission promised to ask Spectra Energy questions citizens submitted. They failed. They meet again 5:30 PM tonight at their Regular Session:

327 North Ashley Street, 2nd Floor
Valdosta, GA 31601
229-671-2442

If you want to speak in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard you need to turn in this form before the meeting starts. They usually have copies at the door of the Commission Chambers, but if there’s a big crowd they might run out, so you can print your own beforehand.

There will be protesters out front starting at 4:30 PM.

Here’s a roundup of local blog, TV, and newspaper coverage: Continue reading Spectra sales and Lowndes County Commission tonight

New Brunswick natives win against fracking company

It sure looks like all Cowboys and Indians as far as fossil fuel companies are concerned, and the only Cowboys are the fossil fuel executives and investors. First Nations just won a temporary victory in New Brunswick, Canada against fracking company SWN, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwestern Energy of Houston, Texas. Landowners and other pipeline opponents in the U.S. southeast maybe can stop a methane pipeline that could well connect all the way up to those same contested shale fields in New Brunswick.

APTN national news wrote yesterday, SWN ending exploration work in NB, will be back in 2015: Elsipogtog War Chief Levi,

ELSIPGOTG FIRST NATION, NB—A Houston-based energy company that has faced ferocious resistance from a Mi’kmaq-led coalition is ending its shale gas exploration work for the year, says Elsipogtog War Chief John Levi.

Levi said Friday that the RCMP informed him that SWN Resources Canada is ending its exploration work, but will return in 2015.

SWN is not Spectra Energy. SWN fracks for gas; Spectra mostly transports it in pipelines. But look at Spectra’s own map, Our Portfolio of Assets: Continue reading New Brunswick natives win against fracking company

Live Oak and Branford Open Houses: Suwannee County and Levy County

This newspaper didn’t mention Suwannee County, Florida may be getting a compressor station. And remember, the proposed pipeline path crosses the Withlacoochee River a second time just before crossing the Suwannee River to enter Suwannee County.

All of the Open Houses required by FERC, are listed on the calendar. They resume Monday evening in Lumpkin, GA and Williston, FL. Before that, Monday morning, the Lowndes County Commission, Georgia, is having Spectra speak at their 8:30 AM Monday 9 December Work Session, to answer questions submitted in advance by the public.

Suwannee Democrat, 30 November 2013, Public invited to proposed gas pipeline open house events,

Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC will be hosting two open house meetings for the interested public to learn more about the underground natural gas pipeline project that is proposed to come through Suwannee County.

The public is invited to attend the meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Coliseum (11th Street/Fairgrounds) in Live Oak and on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Branford High School (405 S Reynolds St., Branford).

They also included “As previously reported by the Suwannee Democrat”:

Natural gas pipeline to extend 40 miles in Suwannee County

500 landowners could be affected

By Bryant Thigpen

bryant.thigpen@gaflnews.com

Sabal Trail Transmission has announced their intent to construct a natural gas pipeline which will run approximately 40 miles in Suwannee County, according to Andrea Grover, spokesperson for Sabal Trail Transmission. Plans are underway to construct a natural gas pipeline from North Alabama to Central Florida and could be constructed as early as Summer 2016.

If the proposed map remains unchanged, the pipeline is about 470 miles long and will make its way through four Alabama counties, nine Georgia counties and 12 Florida counties, including Suwannee and surrounding Madison and Hamilton counties.

The pipeline will extend for approximately 40 miles in Suwannee County and approximately 500 landowners will be affected by this project. About 100 landowners in Hamilton County will be affected by this project as well.

“The routing is very much not set,” Grover said.

According to Grover, the current proposed route could change, but it will stay within the 600 feet corridor. Grover said the pipeline will run along existing rights-of-way for about 80 percent of the route. When construction begins, the pipeline’s projection path will be narrowed down to a 50 feet corridor.

Really? In Lowndes County, Georgia, at least, “run along” means side-by-side but not on the same easement, so many landowners get a second pipeline gash through their property if we let this happen. And why did Sabal Trail file with FERC all those detailed alternative maps including one for a “Hildreth Compressor Station, Suwannee County, Florida”?


Hildreth Compressor Station, Suwannee County, Florida, in Alternatives, by Sabal Trail Transmission,
for FERC Docket No. PF14-1-000, 15 November 2013, converted by SpectraBusters
SABAL TRAIL PROJECT, DRAFT RESOURCE REPORT 10, Alternatives, FERC Docket No. PF14-1-000, Initial Pre-Filing Draft, November 2013

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Open Houses in Florida, and Spectra before the Lowndes County Commission in Georgia

There’s a tiny amount of news coverage about the Open Houses required by FERC, all of which are listed on the calendar. The resume Monday evening in Lumpkin, GA and Williston, FL. Before that, Monday morning, the Lowndes County Commission, Georgia, is having Spectra speak at their 8:30 AM Monday 9 December Work Session, to answer questions submitted in advance by the public.

Morgan Watkins wrote for Gainesville.com Wednesday, Public gets chance Thursday to learn more about proposed pipeline,

Sabal Trail Transmission, the company building a 474-mile natural-gas pipeline from Alabama into Florida, has begun a round of open houses for the public and will host one Thursday evening for Alachua and Gilchrist counties.

The open house will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bell High School, located at 930 S. Main St. in Bell, and provide an opportunity for people in the community to learn more about the pipeline that eventually will run through the area.

Or won’t run through, if enough people oppose it. Continue reading Open Houses in Florida, and Spectra before the Lowndes County Commission in Georgia

Too close –henry g. jowers to FERC

Filed with FERC 25 November 2013:

henry g. jowers, valdosta ga., GA.

I am very opposed to the proposed 36 in. gas line being placed on my land.It will be too close to my;; work shop and home. I FEAR for my family’s safety.I think this gas line will destory; the value of my home and land.

Henry g. Jowers

How to comment with FERC.

Sabal Trails rep. refused to identify supervisor –Sandra Jones to FERC

Filed with FERC 25 November 2013:

Sandra Jones, Moultrie, GA.

Sabal Trils representiative Johnny Mendrano refused to give me the name or contact information of his supervisor following a request in writing of assurance the pipeline would not come within approx. 70 feet of my home. Sabal Trails is not working with home and land owners to discuss issues. For this reason, I respectfully request denial from you until this issue can be resolved.

How to comment with FERC.

Hear Sabal Trail Transmission answer questions from the Lowndes County Commission

PDF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, December 5, 2013 —Representatives from Spectra Energy or its LLC Sabal Trail Transmission will speak at the Monday morning Lowndes County Commission Work Session and answer questions from Commissioners.

When:  8:30 AM
Monday, December 9th, 2013

Where: Commission Chambers
327 North Ashley Street, 2nd Floor
Valdosta, GA 31601
229-671-2442

Questions:
commissioner@lowndescounty.com

Why: Spectra Energy proposes a hundred-foot-wide gash through our lands for their huge 36 inch Sabal Trail gas pipeline from Alabama through Georgia to feed Florida Power and Light (FPL) for no benefit to local citizens. A one-time payment is nowhere near adequate for permanent destruction and hazards when FPL and Spectra would continue to profit forever.

Property values: A pipeline through your property isn’t Continue reading Hear Sabal Trail Transmission answer questions from the Lowndes County Commission

Brooks County Commission Monday 1 2 Dec 2013

5PM tomorrow the Brooks County Commission will meet, and at 5:30 PM they have invited Sandra Y. Jones to speak to them about the Sabal Trail Pipeline. It’s an open public meeting, so the public can attend.

They meet at 610 South Highland Road, Quitman, Georgia. That’s the old National Guard Armory building. Here’s a map:


View Larger Map

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Sabal Trail has not met their commitments –Carol Singletary to FERC

Filed with FERC 20 November 2013; I added a few links to this web version. -jsq

Carol Singletary, Valdosta, GA.

I am strongly contesting the information provided in the RR1 Sabal-Trail-Project initial Draft PF — final PDF, Accession number 20131115-5084, docket number PF14-1. Sabal Trail has not met their commitments to provide information to me, the property owner. Their filing exaggerated their efforts to contact and respond to property owners concerns.

My impression is the landowner consultations are motivated to extract an agreement from the landowner for the survey. I have submitted questions to Sabal Trail representatives at the October 16th Open House held in Valdosta, Georgia and I am still waiting for a response. I have more information Continue reading Sabal Trail has not met their commitments –Carol Singletary to FERC