Category Archives: Leak

FL State Rep. Linda Stewart joins Sabal Trail opposition

July 27, 2014Environment, Florida, Leak, Politics, SolarLinda Stewart, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra EnergyJohn S. Quarterman

Amy Green wrote for wmfe.org, 90.7 news Orlando, 25 July 2014, New Opposition to Sabal Trail pipeline,

State Rep. Linda Stewart is joining environmentalists in opposition of the Sabal Trail pipeline. The 474-mile natural gas pipeline would span Alabama, Georgia and Florida, including Central Florida. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.
Stewart, a Democrat, says Florida should focus instead on solar energy.
“Anything can happen, any kind of leak, any kind of interference with the distribution of it could cause some very negative effects no matter where this may occur.”

Inadequate insurance and safety plus eminent domain and environmental destruction by Sabal Trail –OSFR

July 22, 2014Alabama, Climate Change, Economy, Environment, Ethics, Explosion, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Hazards, History, Law, Leak, LNG, Noise, PHMSA, Safety, Suwannee County, WaterAlabama, Andrea Grover, eminent domain, environment, Ethics, explosion, export, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Hazards, insurance, leak, LNG, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, OSFR, Our Santa Fe River, PHMSA, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, Suwannee County, transparency, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson of Our Santa Fe River sent this letter yesterday to the same newspapers Sabal Trail has been in recently. -jsq

Sabal Trail’s spokesperson distributing large quantities of disinformation

“Safety, public input, federal monitoring, jobs, tax revenue, exceed federal safety requirements, reliability, affordable, clean, thorough review, latest proven technologies:” these are all good little meta tags and nice sounding words and phrases used by Andrea Grover, public relations employee for Sabal Trail, in her recent editorial about that company’s proposed natural gas pipeline which was carried by newspapers in the southeastern United States.

But let us point out a few facts that this editorial fails to mention. There were plenty of public input meetings (we attended seven of these, and we read the minutes from others) and the input was overwhelmingly negative. Issues of concern include Continue reading Inadequate insurance and safety plus eminent domain and environmental destruction by Sabal Trail –OSFR →

Do we want pipeline wastewater spilled in the Floridan Aquifer?

July 16, 2014Environment, Hazards, Leak, Uncategorizedaquifer, brine, leak, North Dakota, spillJohn S. Quarterman

Fracked methane pipelines require testing with local water, which goes back into the local watersheds, not unlike what just happened with the brine spill in North Dakota:

Cleanup area nearly 2 miles down ravine after ND saltwater spill; separated pipe suspected Article by: JOSH WOOD , Associated Press Updated: July 10, 2014 – 10:00 PM http://www.startribune.com/nation/266545571.html?utm_content=buffer7947c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Brenham, Texas, and the highly dangerous character of gas and its tendency to escape

June 18, 2014Explosion, Florida, Hazards, Law, Leak, LNG, Safety, Texas, Washington CountyBrenham, cavern, explosion, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Law, leak, LNG, Safety, SpectraBusters, Texas, Washington CountyJohn S. Quarterman

Imagine the fireball in 1992 in Brenham, Texas on your land or next to your children’s school or in Riviera Beach or Tampa or Jacksonville. The pipeline companies that stored too much “natural” gas in a cavern 2,000 feet below ground that leaked and exploded and killed and injured people, incinerated cattle, and destroyed houses got off on some charges because they believed their own PR that their inherently dangerous product was safe. Will you accept a pipeline company’s bet that a yard-wide pipeline only a few feet below ground won’t leak or that an LNG storage or export facility in a highly populated area won’t leak? Or should we get on with clean, fast, safe, solar power in the Sunshine State and everywhere else?

A retired Air Force Colonel with an advanced degree in nuclear physics, Walter Carss, was an eye witness to the explosion. Carss said the countryside was suddenly illuminated by a brilliant flash of light. Turning in his chair, Carss looked in the direction of the cavern. There, he observed an enormous fireball billowing skyward. As the fireball cooled, it began to turn into a huge pillar of grey smoke. Carss then noticed a visible shock wave racing across the rural landscape. He watched the shock wave rip Continue reading Brenham, Texas, and the highly dangerous character of gas and its tendency to escape →

Say No to Sabal Trail! –Gulf Restoration Network

June 17, 2014Environment, Explosion, FERC, Florida, Hazards, Leak, Wateraquifer, Cathy Harrelson, environment, explosion, FERC, Florida, Gulf Restoration Network, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, karst, leak, limestone, Sabal Trail Transmission, sinkhole, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

You can join this new ally in telling FERC to say no to that useless, damaging, and dangerous fracked methane Sabal Trail pipeline.

Cathy Harrelson wrote for Gulf Restoration Network 12 June 2014, Say ‘No’ to the Sabal Trail Pipeline,

Florida’s besieged waterways are facing a new threat: Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC, wants to run a natural gas pipeline over, under and through our aquifers, rivers and springsheds. Our waters are already under threat from runoff pollution and over-pumping, and this major pipeline would risk sinkholes, gas leaks and aquifer contamination. Florida’s water is too important to take these risks— but we can say ‘no’ today!

Sabal Trail is seeking Continue reading Say No to Sabal Trail! –Gulf Restoration Network →

LNG exports worse than coal –U.S DoE

June 12, 2014Environment, FE, Law, Leak, LNG, Solar, WaterChina, environment, FE, John S. Quarterman, Law, leak, LNG, LNG export, Office of Fossil Energy, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

The same Office of Fossil Energy (FE) that authorizes LNG exports now reports that methane leaks from fracking wells and pipelines are at least as bad for the climate as CO2 from coal. Add to that the destruction of private property rights, wetlands and forests, and overuse and contamination of groundwater, and fracked methane is a disaster. Plus it diverts resources that could be used to go straight to solar and wind power.

Steven Mufson wrote for the Washington Post 9 June 2014, Exporting U.S. natural gas isn’t as “clean” as you think,

The report is titled “Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States.”

It says the benefits of cleaner, more efficient combustion of natural gas are largely offset by methane leakage in U.S. production and pipelines and by methane leaks and energy used in the process of liquefying and transporting the LNG. In the case of shipping LNG from the U.S. gulf coast to Shanghai, the greenhouse gas benefits could in some cases be completely offset by those factors when measured over a 20-year period, the report says.

The Energy Department report was released Continue reading LNG exports worse than coal –U.S DoE →

Methane explosion in Escambia County Jail in Pensacola, FL

May 27, 2014Escambia County, Explosion, Florida, LeakBATF, Bureau of Alcohol, Climate Change, Escambia County, explosion, Firearms and Explosives, Florida, jail, John S. Quarterman, leak, Pensacola, rain, SpectraBusters, Tobacco, WeatherJohn S. Quarterman

Two dead, more than 100 injured, 600 evacuated. Somebody investigated this one.

Michael Pearson, John Murgatroyd and Ed Lavandera, CNN, 1 May 2014, ‘Complete destruction’: 2 die, dozens hurt as explosion shatters Florida jail,

Everyone was accounted for after a powerful explosion ripped through the Escambia County Jail in Florida’s Panhandle and killed two inmates, Sheriff David Morgan said Thursday.

Morgan said a “be on the lookout” message was issued Continue reading Methane explosion in Escambia County Jail in Pensacola, FL →

Pipeline accident risk in Florida springs heartland: go solar instead

May 13, 2014Alachua County, Columbia County, Explosion, FERC, FL PSC, Florida, Gilchrist County, Hazards, Leak, Solar, Suwannee County, Waterexplosion, FERC, FL PSC, Floridan Aquifer, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, karst, leak, limestone, OSFR, Our Santa Fe River, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, springs, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Springs before pipelines, say board members of Our Santa Fe River in central Florida, and let’s get on with clean solar power.

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and Jim Tatum wrote for the Gainesville Sun 25 April 2014, Pipeline in springs heartland would be at risk for accidents,

Is another gas highway pipeline inevitable in our Florida springs heartland?

They quote FPL and note the unanimous October 2013 Florida Public Service Commission (FL PSC) approval of the Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline project, including FL PSC Commissioner Julie Brown saying, “The need for this project is indisputable at this time.” Then they dispute that need. Continue reading Pipeline accident risk in Florida springs heartland: go solar instead →

Pipeline compressor station map

May 13, 2014Explosion, Hazards, Leak, PHMSA, SafetyCompressor stations, explosion, Hazards, interstate, intrastate, John S. Quarterman, leak, maps, NPMS, PHMSA, PODS, Safety, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

How big is the U.S. pipeline network? 510,917 miles, according to PHMSA’s National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS).

According to the Q4 2010 newsletter of Pipeline Open Data Standarrd (pods.org, you can get this map of pipelines and compressor stations through PHMSA’s National Pipeline Mapping System. Should it be suprising when some of these compressor stations leak or some of this half-million miles of pipe explodes?

Has anybody ever heard of an exploding solar panel?

-jsq

More Williams Company Surprise incidents

May 13, 2014Explosion, Hazards, Leak, PHMSA, Safetyabnormal operation, accident, Alan Armstrong, American Petroleum Institute, API, explosion, Gomer Pyle, Hazards, leak, PHMSA, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Apparently pipeline companies are the last to know that pipelines can be dangerous, even after Williams Co’s four strikes this year. Maybe they should stop believing their own propaganda. And why do pipeline companies get four strikes and they’re still not out, anyway?

Dory Hippauf wrote for No Fracking Way 8 May 2014 Williams Co Has Gomer Pyle Moment,

Recently, the Williams Company, the 4th largest pipeline operator in the US, experienced 3 accidents in rapid succession between Feb-Apr 2014.

As reported by Bloomberg news “Williams Reviews Safety After Fire, Explosions at Gas Plants“, May 1, 2014:

“Certainly, this has come as a big surprise to our organization,” Chief Executive Officer Alan Armstrong said on a conference call with analysts today. “We are conducting very thorough investigations into each incident to determine if there’s any common or root cause.”

Why it comes as a big surprise to CEO Armstrong is, well, surprising. It’s well known that pipelines and related infrastructure do have spills, leaks, fires and explosions resulting in property damage, injuries and deaths. At a time when fossil fuel corporations are expanding and building new infrastructures and pipelines, safety, not profits, should be the foremost consideration.

Follow the link for the list of Williams Co. incidents, which includes many more than these few big ones from 2014:

That’s four “abnormal operations” or accidents so far in 2014 alone. In baseball only three strikes and Williams would be out. Why does a pipeline company get nothing but PR out of all this?

What’s an actual accident or “abnormal operations” anyway? PHMSA uses definitions from the American Petroleum Institute (API), and requires pipeline operators to put out propaganda according to API guidelines. Maybe Williams CEO Alan Armstrong actually believed that API propaganda.

The No Fracking Way article also notes:

According to Tom Droege, Williams Co. spokesperson, as stated in an email, over the last five years, Williams has had a lower rate of incidents on its pipelines than the industry average, he said, citing federal statistics.

Hm, so if Williams has fewer than the industry average, where does Spectra rank?

Droege failed to mention the industrial average was 1.6 pipeline incidents per day, so what does a “lower rate of incidents” really mean?

And who ever heard of a solar panel leak or explosion? What say we cancel the pipeline and go straight to faster, cheaper, safer, job-creating solar power.

-jsq