How to contact your local government state and federal government in Florida. There always seem to be more to add. Send us any we missed: see our contact page.
Florida U.S. Congress Senators and Representatives with govtrack.us map of Congressional districts and Florida’s own map of Congressional districts. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) is on FERC’s House oversight committee, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Florida state Senate interactive map, printable map, and interactive list of state Senators.
Florida state House map, detail maps of each district, and list of representatives.
Beyond the incumbents, here’s everybody who’s running for all of the above plus quite a few other offices.
See below for county commissions and city councils of county seats along the Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline path and along the Florida Southeast Connection pipeline path. In alphabetical order: Alachua County, Columbia County, Gilchrist County, Hamilton County, Lake County, Levy County, Madison County, Marion County, Martin County, Okeechobee County, Orange County, Osceola County, Polk County, St. Lucie County, Sumter County, Suwannee County.
The Florida Association of Counties has a directory with contact information for each county: http://www.fl-counties.com/member-services/online-directory/online-directory-search
Please also send links to watershed or conservation groups or other related information.
See also Florida PSC and FERC.
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Third Sabal Trail pipeline route misses Georgia entirely:
where does the pipeline path really go in Florida? - Florida opposition to Spectra pipeline
Madison County (its category is always up to date)
Madison County CommissionHamilton County (its category is always up to date)
Hamilton County CommissionersSuwannee County (its category is always up to date)
Suwannee County Commissioners-
Third Sabal Trail pipeline route misses Georgia entirely
Now it will cross from Suwannee County into Gilchrist County by running underneath the bed of the Santa Fe River.
Columbia County (its category is always up to date)
- Georgia pipeline safety record worse than in Florida
- Ichetucknee Alliance thinks it got the pipeline to move
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Third Sabal Trail pipeline route misses Georgia entirely
The proposed route through North Florida was originally going to follow an overhead power line in the Columbia County area and cross the Ichetucknee River, Grover said.
Gilchrist County (its category is always up to date)
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Third Sabal Trail pipeline route misses Georgia entirely
Now it will cross from Suwannee County into Gilchrist County by running underneath the bed of the Santa Fe River.
Alachua County (its category is always up to date)
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Third Sabal Trail pipeline route misses Georgia entirely
It will also run through about four miles of land in the southwest corner of Alachua County.
Levy County (its category is always up to date)
Marion County (its category is always up to date)
Sumter County (its category is always up to date)
- Senator Bill Nelson directs FERC to respond to Amelia Longley’s questions
- Move pipeline to unpopulated electric corridor –Gertrude C. Dickinson
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Half Moon Wildlife Management Area and Sabal Trails
“I wonder what will happen when we ‘burn’ ( set fire to) the entire Half Moon in February after the pipe is installed. I hope there will not be any gas leaks.”
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Florida opposition to Spectra pipeline
She said what she got in return was this map showing all three states the 465 mile pipeline would go through, and a dot showing the general area she lived in Sumter County. What it didn’t explain is why they wanted to go through her land, and not the state-owned prairie across the street.
Lake County (its category is always up to date)
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Florida opposition to Spectra pipeline
Another meeting is planned at South Lake High School in Groveland Wednesday.
Orange County (its category is always up to date)
Osceola County (its category is always up to date)
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Florida opposition to Spectra pipeline
Sabal Trail Transmission met with landowners in Kissimmee Tuesday night.
Florida Southeast Connection
Perhaps someone who lives in the path of this pipeline can help fill in the details for the directly affected counties.
Here’s a list of FERC-required open houses in November 2013.
We have had a problem with aol and I lost contact with you all. I am very concerned
about the proposed pipeline. I don’t have a great deal of optimism about the future of holding back big giants. They have so much money… where do we start ?
It’s almost like the Japan whale wars. In order to protect our wildlife, native
habitat and our land we have to go to war. They say they can save 600 million by
choosing this method of delivery……I feel the 4 states involved are worth much more than that……How can I help????? I do have a voice, I am a native Floridian
and I have very deep roots. I need a hot shower after working all day just like every one else….there has to be a better choice for FPL. Please help me help our planet.
2nd. Meeting for Osceola/Orange County …..Tuesday Dec.17th. 5 to 7 p.m. Kissimmee middle school cafeteria. Will there be anyone from Spectrabusters there?
Sincerely,
Monica L. Martin
OUR PROBLEM WITH SABAL IS THAT THEY INTEND TO PUT A COMPRESSOR STATION IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLANNED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SENT A COMPLAINT TO FERC BUT NO REACTION. HERE IS OUR COMPLAINT:
WESTMONT HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC
830 Dyson Drive, Winter Springs, FL 32708
Email: arntvagle@gmail.com ### Ph: 407-977-8171
February 3, 2014
THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Att: Mr. John Peconom, Project Manager for SABAL Project
888 First Street N.E.
Washington, DC 20426
RE: OBJECTION FROM SABAL TRAIL TRANSMISSION LLC TO AREA C
Dear Mr. John Peconom,
Thank you for sending us the letter from SABAL regarding their objection to choosing area C on our map for the Compressor Station.
SABAL has 3 choices for their compressor station which is shown as area A, B or C on the map on the following page. We have read the letter several times and we are happy to see that there is basically no valid, credible or rational reason for SABAL not choosing area C. The reason for not choosing area C in their letter is built on lame, fabricated and very irrelevant reasoning and even with some very misleading and untrue arguments that just don’t hold water.
John, the monumental reality at hand is if SABAL should be allowed – with FERC’s blessing – to kill and destroy a $600 million residential development? Will SABEL be allowed to rob a county for $64 million in property taxes over 20 years, $12 million in impact fees and at the same time hijacking and deny the lot owners for $9 million in lost income on their own land? And what about the developer that already has spent time and money for the last 2-3 years on planing this residential paradise next to Disney? Can a big company like SABAL just plow them under – for no valid reason?? We are offering an alternative solution which should be amicable to both parties.
We have on the following pages dissected the important elements of their objections and addressed them one-by-one and analyzed how reasonable or unreasonable their arguments really are. We will add them to our complaint at FERC, and look forward to working with you and SABAL regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Arnt Vagle
………………………………..
Arnt Vagle
For WESTMONT HOA INC
OBJECTION TO AREA C
1. 1500 FT LONGER PIPELINE
One of the arguments from SABAL is that SABAL might have to lengthen the pipeline by 1500 ft at an estimated cost of about $1 mill (cost of gas pipeline from FALCON). If SABAL is using route A instead of route B (see map) SABAL would have to lay about the7500 ft of pipe 8 ft deep because of the matrix of all the roads in Westmont (within the red line on the map) versus using the much shorter route B (about 6000 ft) where they could just lay them 6 ft deep which is the normal dept for a pipeline of this size. This would mean great savings for SABAL and not a cost.
John, the extra length of the pipeline IS NOT a CREDIBLE and COMPELLING argument considering the alternative is to eradicate and kill a $600 mill residential development; rob and deny landowners $9 mill for their own land; eliminate $12 mill in impact fee and $64 mill in property taxes for the county; and 800 hundred jobs in Osceola County??
2. SUFFICIENT UPLAND
SABAL wants to use either section A or B on the map above for their compressor station. Another of their argument for not choosing area C is that the upland in section C is not sufficient. According to their own estimation, SABAL needs only about 10-15 acres for their plant facilities. SABAL can have 25+ acres in section C plus we will offer them and additional 55 acres which SABAL can use for their facility buffer. SABAL is proposing 40 acres in section A or B, but we are offering 80 acres in section C plus a 1000-1500 ft better and wider woodland buffer, which will be better for everybody. This is the kind of forest and heavy vegetation buffer that is needed between the planned residential development and the industrial complex. According to FALCON GAS, a compressor station for this kind of purpose needs only 7-10 acres of land. Does SABAL have an engineering problem or lack of willingness to accept alternative C?
John, this is a lame argument and not a CREDIBLE, CONVINCING and APPLICABLE argument considering the alternative is to kill a residential development with all the already mentioned implications!
3. WETLAND IMPACT AT THE AREA C
We have had a wetlands expert view area C and there should be no or minimal negative effect on the wetland for the COMPRESSOR STATION for which SABAL needs 10-15 acres . If they change the route of the pipeline from a western route (A) they will impact 2840 ft of wetland, while if SABAL use a northern route (B) SABAL will impact 3260 ft of wetland. The difference is 420 ft which with a 40 ft permanent pipeline track means an additional 16,800 sqf or 1/3 of an acre more wetlands impact. We will give 55 acres of land to SABAL which they can mitigate for that 1/3 acre which will be an improvement of the wetland in the long term. Such a 6000 ft track or trail through the woodland using route B could become a dream trail for joggers and not at least for hunters as the area has a large deer population.
JOHN, is this impact of an extra 1/3 acre of wetland a credible, convincing and plausible argument that warrant for SABAL to kill a $600 mill residential development!
4. INFRASTRUCTURE
SABAL is also mentioning the challenges with the infrastructure and their ability to hook up to the pipeline going south. This is a minor engineering problem that a company like SABAL should have no problem overcoming. They want to choose the “convenience & cost principle” instead of working and resolving their civic duties and community responsibilities when SABAL goes through a county. SABAL owes it to the county and the people not to be destructive but to compromise and find the best solution for all parties involved.
John, are you going to let them plow us down, because of some minor engineering problems?
5. IMPACT ON NEW LANDOWNERS
It is almost unbelievable that SABAL is using this as an argument to ask for permission to kill a residential development. In their western route A they would impact 21 landowners while if SABAL use area C and the northern route B, SABAL would impact only 6-9 landowners! These landowner in the northern route B would be very happy to work with SABAL as they are outside the planned residential development and they can find no use for their land. It would be a win-win situation for all lot owners involved. SABAL owes it to the county and the people not to be destructive but to compromise and choose the best solution for all parties involved. SABAL has civic duties and community responsibilities when SABAL goes through a county with FERC permission.
John, are you going to give them a “CERTIFICATE OF NECCESITY” to plow us down because SABAL has to contact new landowners? This is a fabricated argument and not valid considering the alternative?
6. REROUTING PIPELINE IMPACT ON WETLAND
The difference between the western route A and the northern route B of the pipeline would only have about 1/3 acre of permanent wetland impact. As mentioned before, this could be rectified by mitigating the 55 acres which the developer will give to SABAL if SABAL would work with the developer to choose alternative C and the best route for the pipeline and the compressor station.
John, an impact of 1/3 acre or even 1 acre of wetland cannot be viewed as a credible and plausible argument in this large endeavor.
7. START OF HUNTER CREEK LINE
The fact that one pipeline is being hooked up to another via the compressor station is just a minor engineering problem that SABAL with their expertise and knowledge should have no problem resolving. Of course the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but the intelligence and qualifications of the consultants whom SABAL has engaged is much bigger and I definitely give them credit for having the ability and proficiency to resolve this minor problem.
John, are you going to give them a “CERTIFICATE OF NECESSITY” to plow us down because SABAL will not apply and dedicate their engineering skills and competence to resolve some minor engineering problems?
8. LANDOWNERS AND WESTMONT HOA DEVELOPMENT
It is amazing how SABAL is attacking the WESTMONT HOA in their quest to kill a residential development and to secure their obstructive path. This reminds me of SABAL is shooting the messenger instead of discussing the message. The facts that landowners owning only about 70% of the land in WESTMONT are members of the HOA have nothing to do with placement of the compressor station. All the landowners who SABAL has not already offered large sums of money, want the compressor station built in section C.
John, such an attack and insult to Westmont HOA and their members is an irrelevant and not credible argument for SABAL to kill this residential development!
9. DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL FOR THE GLOBAL VILLAGE
Another surprising argument from SABAL is their attack and assault on the landowners, the HOA and the developer for where they are in the process of getting approval for such a large project as the GLOBAL VILLAGE – which is the name of this planned development on 450-550 acres at WESTMONT. We have been talking with all the people involved, bought option contracts on land and had regular meetings with the developer. The developer has prepared site plans, engaged engineers, wetlands experts and also discussed the plan with the community development department in Osceola County. Such a large endeavor is not executed over night, but implemented carefully and considerate over time as we are working with 79 lots and 56 or more lot owner. This is another attack and assault on the messenger instead of discussing the message. We gave SABAL one of our site plans 9 months ago, which SABAL arrogantly disregarded and refused to discuss. During these 9 months, not once did SABAL give us a chance to sit down and consider and evaluate the alternatives in the two projects. Not even once after many phone calls. SABAL’s attitude has been that “we know best, damn and down with the landowners”.
JOHN, this is an irrelevant attack and assault on the wrong person and in no way justifies their decision to reject our proposed alternative C.
10. AIR POLLUTION
This is a picture from an accident at a compressor station at Roseland, New Jersey.
We are not in doubt that SABAL will “meet or exceed the requirements …… and comply with FERC requirements”, but the FACTS AND REALITY still remain that the compressor station will emit a mix of pollutants. If SABAL chooses section C, the compressor station will have a natural wooded buffer of 1000-1500 ft to any residential development and the zoning in section C is already industrial. If SABAL – and FERC for that matter – has a choice, why not choose the best one possible for the people and community around the compressor station? Why could not SABAL make a choice that shows some civic duties and community responsibilities?
John, this is a classic example of why SABAL needs you and FERC. You have to guide them when it comes to their civic duties and community responsibilities. SABAL should not be allowed to kill this residential development with 2000++ new homes.
11. NOISE
This is another example where SABAL will of course “meet or exceed the requirements ….and comply with FERC”, but the FACTS and REALITY still persist that the compressor station will have a noise level – DAY AND NIGHT – that is inconsistent with and not desirable for a residential development, but which should only be allowed in an industrial zoned area. Who would live next to this noisy chemical complex? A forested natural wetlands buffer of 1000-1500 ft will eliminate or minimize this problem for the residents in or adjacent to alternative C. Are SABAL blinded by their own desire for convenience and profit? To force their way through in this matter, SABAL has to ask the commissioners at Osceola County to rezone 40 acres from residential to industrial which will automatically kill the planned Westmont residential development.
John, this is another classic example how SABAL just consider the regulatory requirements and not the real and actual effects on the residents and the community. SABAL makes their selection arrogantly and inconsiderately exclusively for their own convenience and profit with a total disregard for civic and community concerns
12. GAS COMPRESSOR STATION ACCIDENTS
This picture is from an accident at a FALCON natural gas compressor station at Pinedale, Wyoming on Jan 13, 2012. You can find the video if you google: “compressor station accidents”. Again, we are not in doubt that SABAL will “meet or exceed the requirements”, but the FACT AND REALITY still remains that there are hundreds of accidents at compressor stations around. So, why not build them in an industrial area like section C with a natural buffer of trees and heavy vegetation?
Why does SABAL insist on building this kind of industrial chemical complex right in the middle of a planned residential development, when SABAL have an acceptable and sensible alternative choice?
John, in this particular case SABAL has an acceptable choice and a chance to show who they are and that SABAL have civic duties to the community which SABAL should take serious. Whoever will give them permission to put the compressor station in the middle of a residential development might one day be left with some blood on their hands. John, you can avoid this by guiding SABAL to a responsible site for their Compressor station since alternative C is the safest possible place in the area. Safety should be taken very serious as the people and the county will rely on it for many years to come.
CONCLUSION
John, after evaluating and analyzing each of the arguments from SABAL, we cannot find any objections that are reasonable and justifiable enough for them to choose their present path. SABAL has nothing to lose by compromising. The justification for not choosing alternative C cannot be accepted or justified by any reasonable or rational person or company.
Sincerely,
Arnt Vagle
………………………………………….
For WESTMONT HOA
Thanks for posting that, Arnt.
Three FERC ecomment filings by Arnt Vagle:
Formal Complaint of ARNT VAGLE under PF14-1.
Supplemental Information of ARNT VAGLE under PF14-1.
Supplemental Information / Request of ARNT VAGLE under PF14-1.