Tag Archives: Dougherty County

Sabal Trail sues Georgia landowners for federal eminent domain –Atlanta Journal Constitution

May 2, 2016Colquitt County, Dougherty County, Georgia, History, Law, TexasAlbany, Bob Graham, Colquitt County, Columbus, Dougherty County, Florida, Georgia, Greenlaw, History, John S. Quarterman, Law, Moultrie, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sandra Jones, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Steve Caley, Ted Turner, Texas, Westmoreland CountyJohn S. Quarterman

Which Houston, Texas pipeline company has sued Ted Turner, Bob Graham, and dozens of other Georgia landowners, including a Georgia Centennial Farm? That’s right, Spectra Energy, as in the Sabal Trail fracked methane boondoggle.

Dan Chapman, AJC, 1 May 2016, South Georgia pipeline fight turns into battle over eminent domain,

A Texas company wants to condemn private property in Georgia for a pipeline to deliver energy to Florida.

Continue reading →

Sabal Trail Contractor Fairs: Ocala, Live Oak, Albany

April 9, 2016Alabama, Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Florida, Georgia, Marion County, Osceola County, Suwannee County, Tallapoosa CountyAlabama, Albany, Alexander City, compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Florida, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Kissimmee, Live Oak, Marion County, Ocala, Osceola County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Tallapoosa CountyJohn S. Quarterman

Update 10 April 2016: And Moultrie, GA April 15th.

Trying to attract local support in counties where it wants compressor stations, Sabal Trail is holding Contractor Fairs, ignoring that:

Suwannee County told Sabal Trail to move the Hildreth Compressor Station.
Suwannee County this week followed Hamilton County in asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to come see what Sabal Trail didn’t tell FERC about sinkholes, springs, underground caverns, plus numerous related pipelines, LNG export operations, and bomb trains schemes.
The Georgia House on March 22 voted by a historic 34 ayes to 128 nays to deny river-drilling easements for Sabal Trail, led among others by Rep. Winfred Dukes of Albany, where Sabal Trail wants to drill under the Flint River and build a compressor station in an environmental justice community.

Look in the dictionary under chutzpah (insolence), and you’ll see Sabal Trail’s picture. Two years ago in Gilchrist County, FL, Sabal Trail admitted Continue reading Sabal Trail Contractor Fairs: Ocala, Live Oak, Albany →

Construction of Sabal Trail pipeline is not inevitable –L. Elliott Jones

March 29, 2016Dougherty County, FERC, Georgia, WaterAlbany Herald, Carlton Fletcher, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Clean Water Act, Dougherty County, environmental justice, Environmental Protection Division, FERC, Flint River, Flint Riverkeeper, GA EPD, Georgia, Greenlaw, John S. Quarterman, Kioke-Flint Group, L. Elliott Jones, landowners, National Environmental Policy Act, Natural Gas Act, NEPA, Orlando Sentinel, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee River, Water, WWALSJohn S. Quarterman

Especially preventable after Sabal Trail’s river easements went down in flames in a historic vote by the Georgia House last week. -jsq

L. Elliott Jones, Albany Herald, 28 March 2016, L. ELLIOTT JONES: Construction of Sabal Trail pipeline is not inevitable
GUEST COLUMNIST: Efforts are still under way to prevent the construction of the gas pipeline,

Carlton Fletcher’s story, “Dougherty County leaders OK inevitable agreement on pipeline” on March 21, presented only one part of the current story on the Sabal Trail pipeline. There are two schools of thought on the Sabal Trail pipeline: those who believe construction of the pipeline is inevitable, and those who believe the pipeline can and should be prevented, and are working hard to do so. No one, in either group, believes it is needed in Georgia.
Continue reading Construction of Sabal Trail pipeline is not inevitable –L. Elliott Jones →

Albany, GA caves to Sabal Trail 4-3

March 15, 2016Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Georgia, Law, WaterAlbany, compressor, Dougherty County, easement, Economy, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lily Pond Road, Roger Marietta, SpectraBusters, Terrell County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

One vote could have stopped this. One vote could vote out one or more of the four who voted for. Thanks to Roger Marietta for fighting on.

Carlton Fletcher, Albany Herald, 15 March 2016, Albany city commissioners agree to Sabal Trail easement payment: Pipeline company to pay city $165,000 settlement for five easements,

The Albany City Commission voted 4-3 at a called meeting Tuesday morning to accept a $165,000 payment from Sabal Trail Transmissions for five easements on city-owned property.

Ward IV City Commissioner Roger Marietta suggested Continue reading Albany, GA caves to Sabal Trail 4-3 →

We will accept Sabal Trail’s answers –FERC issues certificates

February 3, 2016Environment, FERC, Law, LNG, Politics, WaterAlbany, Dougherty County, Duke Energy, environment, FERC, Florida, Florida Southeast Connection, FSC, Georgia, Hamilton County, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, NextEra Energy, Politics, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, Transco, Water, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Property rights, environment, or safety? 14% pipeline company profit is more important! said FERC. But this fight is not over.

Without ever appearing on FERC’s public calendar, and a month in advance of when FERC previously said, FERC yesterday issued certificates for Sabal Trail, the Transco Hillabee Expansion Project, and Florida Southeast Connection. Trial-style evidentiary hearing? Nope, FERC believes Sabal Trail. Consolidation of the three dockets into one? Nope, everybody should have opposed all three, says FERC. Environmental justice? Hey, demographics don’t matter, pipeline siting is all about engineering and “environmental” issues. And profit. Don’t forget profit for the pipeline companies. Solar power? Nevermind, Continue reading We will accept Sabal Trail’s answers –FERC issues certificates →

Petition against Sabal Trail by Gulf Restoration Network

November 24, 2015Alabama, Compressor, Dougherty County, Florida, Georgia, WaterAlabama, aquifer, Arkansa River, Chattachoochee River, compressor, Dougherty County, explosion, Flint River, Florida, Georgia, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Restoration Network, Hillel, Johanna de Graffenreid, John S. Quarterman, river, Santa Fe River, sinkhole, SpectraBusters, Suwannee River, Water, wetland, Withlacoochee RiverJohn S. Quarterman

Johanna de Graffenreid, Gulf Restoration Network, 11 November 2015, EPA Warns – Sabal Trail Pipeline Threatens Gulf,

Last week, thanks to the courageous efforts of community members across the nation who stood up to the oil industry in their backyards, President Obama vetoed the northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline. Unfortunately, there’s no rest for the weary and a new threat to our Gulf is rearing its ugly head. Unless we stand up to Spectra Energy, and the EPA intervenes, the Sabal Trail Pipeline will begin construction in 2016.

There’s more, and a link to a petition to Stop the Southeast Market Pipeline.

Please sign.

“If I am not for myself who is for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” —Hillel the Elder

Or, as the Texians said at Gonzales, the Georgians at Fort Morris, and the Spartans at Thermopylae:

Come and Take It!

Please sign this petition.

-jsq

Albany against Sabal Sinkhole Trail at GA-EPD air quality hearing

November 20, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Georgia, WaterAir, compressor, Dougherty County, Enon Winkler, environmental justice, Eric Cornwell, Flint River, Flint Riverkeeper, GA EPD, Georgia, Gordon Rogers, Greenlaw, Hank Johnson David Scott, John Lewis, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sanford Bishop, sinkhole, Sinkhole Trail, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Steve Caley, Water, Winfred DukesJohn S. Quarterman

The people don’t want Sabal Trail, nor its compressor station. Nobody but Spectra’s paid person Andrea Grover spoke for Sabal Trail, and she only did it by email later, not at the hearing. Pretty good coverage in three local stories.

Carlton Fletcher, Albany Herald, 7 November 2015, Sabal Trail opponents voice concerns to EPD: State officials hold air-quality permitting hearing at Albany Tech,

“There’s a great deal of frustration here because the preponderance of evidence shows that this is a bad project,” [Gordon] Rogers said. “And while we Continue reading Albany against Sabal Sinkhole Trail at GA-EPD air quality hearing →

Tonight! Stop the Sinkhole Trail Pipeline at the Public Hearing, Air Quality, Sabal Trail Albany Compressor –GA-EPD 2015-11-05

November 5, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, GeorgiaAir, Albany, compressor, Dougherty County, EPD, Flint Riverkeeper, GA EPD, Georgia, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Gordon Rogers, Gretchen Quarterman, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

6:30 PM tonight, 5 November 2015 at Albany Technical College.

Gordon Rogers, Flint Riverkeeper and Gretchen Quarterman, WWALS Watershed Coalition

Here’s the EPD Press Release: Continue reading Tonight! Stop the Sinkhole Trail Pipeline at the Public Hearing, Air Quality, Sabal Trail Albany Compressor –GA-EPD 2015-11-05 →

Sabal Trail is a reckless proposal –GA State Senator Sims to FERC

October 25, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Environment, Georgia, Hazards, Health, Law, Safety, WaterAir, Albany, compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, environment, Freddie Powell Sims, Georgia, Hazards, Health, John S. Quarterman, Law, Safety, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Sabal Trail targets those most vulnerable, the “elderly, disabled and without monetary or political means to “fight” such an environmentally intrusive plan.”

Filed with FERC 23 October 2015 as Accession Number 20151023-5278, “Comment of Senator Freddie Powell Sims under CP15-17”:

FREDDIE POWELL SIMS
District 12
110-A State Capitol
Atlanta. Georgia 30334
Phone: (404) 463-5259
Fax: (404) 463-2279
Email: Freddie.Sims@senate.ga.gov

COMMITTEES:

Interstate Cooperation, Vice-Chairman
Education and Youth, Secretary
Appropriations
Finance
Natural Resources and the Environment

The State Senate

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

October 20, 2015
Kimberly D. Bose
Secretary
Federal Energy Regulation Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washingtun, DC 20426
Dear Ms. Bose:
As State Senator for District 12 in the State of Georgia, I write this letter in opposition to the proposed Sabal Pipeline location in the populous area of Dougherty County / Albany, Georgia. The Sabal Pipeline proposed location is a “reckless” proposal that negates the health and safety of current and future residents of Dougherty County / Albany, Georgia. Many of the residents Continue reading Sabal Trail is a reckless proposal –GA State Senator Sims to FERC →

Four Congress members demand Sabal Trail move off of Albany, GA

October 24, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, LawAfrican-American, compressor, David Scott, Dougherty County, environmental justice, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, Health, Henry C. Hank Johnson Jr., John Lewis, Law, Member of Congress, Sanford D. Bishop Jr., SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Writing directly to the FERC Commissioners, these representatives stand up for the people against pipeline company greed.

For immediate release: Friday, October 23, 2015
Contact: Max Gigle, 202-225-3631
PROPOSED SABAL TRAIL RAISES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, HEALTH CONCERNS
CONGRESSMAN BISHOP AND GEORGIA HOUSE DEMOCRATS DEMAND ALTERNATIVES

ALBANY, GA — Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02) spearheaded a letter with Congressmen John Lewis (GA-05), Henry ‘Hank’ Johnson Jr. (GA-04), and David Scott (GA-13) to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) raising concerns regarding Sabal Trail’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct a 516-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The letter especially cites the proposed location of the pipeline and an accompanying compressor station in Albany, Georgia, which is located in Dougherty County. The proposed location raises serious environmental justice issues that have not been fully addressed by FERC in its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project.

Congressman Bishop, as well as Representatives Lewis, Scott, and Johnson, are members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which has highlighted issues of environmental justice. The Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental justice as, Continue reading Four Congress members demand Sabal Trail move off of Albany, GA →