Category Archives: Law

Sabal Trail opposition gets national media attention

October 12, 2014Alabama, Dougherty County, Economy, Environment, Florida, Georgia, Hazards, LawAlabama, Associated Press, Dougherty County, Economy, environment, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FPL, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Law, NextEra Energy, Ray Henry, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

The AP finally picked up on opposition, newspapers and TV stations from San Francisco to Washington, DC and from Utah and Chicago to Miami picked up the AP story that same day, including Spectra Energy’s home town of Houston, Texas, plus Canada and New Zealand, followed by the Valdosta Daily Times today, for at least 27 stories total.

Ray Henry wrote for AP Saturday 11 October 2014, New $3.7B gas line proposed for Ala., Ga., Fla.,

ATLANTA (AP)—A proposal to build a $3.7 billion pipeline system carrying natural gas into Florida is raising complaints from Georgia residents—including media mogul Ted Turner—who say they’d face environmental costs while others get the benefits.

He quoted Gloria Gaines of Albany. He also mentioned Duke’s proposed Citrus County plant without mentioning that Duke has repeatedly said it doesn’t need Sabal Trail. And he didn’t mention LNG export. But he did list quite a few opponents, and he included this:

NextEra, Spectra or their related political committees have donated several thousand dollars to politicians, including Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.

Picking up the AP story that same day were: Continue reading Sabal Trail opposition gets national media attention →

FERC formal filing process for Sabal Trail

October 7, 2014Alabama, FERC, Florida, Georgia, History, LawAlabama, FERC, Florida, FPL, Georgia, History, John S. Quarterman, Law, Nathan Deal, NextEra Energy, Rick Scott, Robert J. Bentley, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

The end of October is the beginning of the formal FERC filing process, at least if Sabal Trail files October 31st as Andrea Grover has predicted. FERC not only takes comments during a formal filing, which usually lasts about a year, but as that process begins your group also can become an intervenor, which provides additional legal capabilities. Follow the link for details about FERC’s pre-filing and formal filing processes, with graphical and textual timelines.

Commenting with and watching the FERC process, or filing as an intervenor, is a great way to keep up with what’s going on. But depending on FERC alone would be foolish, since the same day Albany and Dougherty County citizens overwhelmingly opposed the pipeline in a public meeting, FERC approved Cove Point LNG export in Maryland, despite massive public opposition.

Fortunately, it’s not just FERC that decides Continue reading FERC formal filing process for Sabal Trail →

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 →

FERC authorized Cove Point LNG export in Maryland

September 30, 2014Compressor, Economy, Environment, FE, FERC, Law, LNG, Maryland, VirginiaCalvert County, compressor, Cove Point, Dominion Power, Economy, environment, FE, FERC, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Maryland, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, VirginiaJohn S. Quarterman

This is what we’re going to get in Dougherty County, Georgia, and Lowndes County, and Suwannee County, Florida, and all the other counties along whichever route FERC picks for the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline to three already-authorized LNG export operations in Florida, unless somebody actually does something more than just talk. What talk gets you is being counted as one of n speakers at m meetings, and then this:

The Commission found that the proposal, as mitigated with 79 conditions found in Appendix B of today’s order, is in the public interest.

That’s right, FERC found Continue reading FERC authorized Cove Point LNG export in Maryland →

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 →

Stop this Pipeline –Columbia Paper not buying the script

September 27, 2014Columbia County, Compressor, Economy, Explosion, FERC, Fracking, Law, Leak, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, SafetyColumbia County, compressor, Constitution Pipeline, Economy, explosion, FERC, FPL, Fracking, John S. Quarterman, Kinder Morgan, Law, leak, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Tennesee Gas PipelineJohn S. Quarterman

Update 28 Sep 2014: With details from Bill Huston. The main point remains:

“Supporting the pipeline proposal as it stands amounts to surrendering our future to the petroleum industry.” That about sums it up, both for Kinder Morgan’s ~~Constition Pipeline~~ Northeast Direct project (NED) through Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, and for Spectra and FPL’s Sabal Trail pipeline through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Parry Teasdale wrote for The Columbia Paper of Ghent, NY 25 September 2014, EDITORIAL: Stop this pipeline,

The proposed pipeline would reportedly run beneath 55 private properties in Columbia County if it’s approved by federal regulators. The property owners would have to grant rights of way to the company. Neither the towns nor the county could intervene.

The editorial doesn’t really buy that last: it laster asks local governments to intervene.

Opponents say that property values along and nearby Continue reading Stop this Pipeline –Columbia Paper not buying the script →

A methane pipeline company sues a newspaper about publishing open records

September 18, 2014Alabama, FERC, Jefferson County, Law, PHMSA, SafetyAL PSC, Alabama, Alabama Gas Co, Alabama Public Service Commission, Alagasco, DIMP, Distribution Integrity Management Plan, First Amendment, freedom of the press, Jefferson County, John S. Quarterman, Law, Montgomery Advertiser, open records, PHMSA, prior restraint, public records, Safety, SpectraBusters, Tom Clifford, USA TodayJohn S. Quarterman

How desperate is the pipeline industry getting? One has gone so far as to demand a court grant it veto power over public open records.

Kala Kachmar, Montgomery Advertiser, 17 September 2014, Alagasco sues Advertiser to stop use of pipe safety plan,

Alabama Gas Corporation has taken legal action to attempt to stop the Montgomery Advertiser from publishing or writing about the company’s document that outlines a plan to ensure the safety of gas pipes.

The document, Alagasco’s Distribution Integrity Management Plan (DIMP), was obtained in June through a public records request to the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC), which oversees the state’s utilities.

All gas companies are required by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to file a plan that assures pipeline safety and integrity with the state entity that oversees utility companies.

The regulation requires Continue reading A methane pipeline company sues a newspaper about publishing open records →

We grow increasingly concerned –Dougherty County Commission to FERC

September 14, 2014Compressor, Dougherty County, FERC, Georgia, Health, Law, Safetycompressor, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, Dougherty County Commission, Down Home Plantation, FERC, Georgia, Health, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

All members of the Dougherty County Commission signed a letter saying “we grow increasingly concerned” that FERC and Sabal Trail aren’t listening to concerns of Dougherty County citizens. And that was after one August meeting of citizens discussing and opposing that fracked methane pipeline; Dougherty County citizens have held at least four such meetings by now. Maybe the Dougherty County Commission would like to take legal action by passing a land-use ordinance regulating pipelines. many other County Commissions that are going to be affected by And maybe the Alternative 1, Alternative 2, or Alternative 3 if the pipeline gets moved from its current proposed path might want to also take action.

Here are images of the pages the Dougherty County Commission sent to FERC 5 September 2014, starting with the two pages of the Commission’s letter dated 25 August 2014, three pages of a stakeholder writeup signed by Dinorah Hall, two pages not depicted that were broken TIFFs, but presumably contained the 13 August 2014 Albany Herald story about the South Dougherty League meeting, and a Limited Warrantee Deed dated 24 May 2014 transferring 79.184 acres from Down Home Plantation LLC to Sabal Trail Transmission LLC, which. the Dougherty County Commission guesses is for a compressor station.

It’s not like that land transfer is a secret. Searching for Sabal Trail in Continue reading We grow increasingly concerned –Dougherty County Commission to FERC →

Is the Sabal Trail pipeline necessary? –Lori McCraney

September 12, 2014FERC, Hamilton County, Hazards, Law, Safety, Suwannee County, WaterFERC, Hamilton County, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lori McCraney, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee Alliance for Sustainable Growth, Suwannee County, Suwannee Democrat, Suwannee River, Water, Withlacoochee RiverJohn S. Quarterman

Lori McCraney of  Suwannee Alliance for Sustainable Growth wrote in the Suwannee Democrat 11 September 2014, Guest commentary — Is the Sabal Trail pipeline necessary?

I am pleased that the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners has issued a resolution challenging the location of the Sabal Trail pipeline in the vicinity of the Withlacoochee River. Hamilton County resident Chris Mericle did an excellent job of explaining the risks of locating the pipeline in such fragile karst terrain. Sable Trails LLC quickly responded by saying that it will move the crossing to the west, possibly crossing the Suwannee River somewhere near the Suwannee River State Park.

The same problems still exist with tunneling under the Withlacoochee River in Lowndes County, Georgia and tunneling under the Suwannee River at two locations in Suwannee County. As Mr. Mericle explained about drilling under our rivers, “The horizontal directional drilling could intersect spring conduits, affect spring well flows, and ultimately river base flow. Grouting in this cavernous, Continue reading Is the Sabal Trail pipeline necessary? –Lori McCraney →

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 →

SpectraBusters

We ain't afraid a no pipeline!