Tag Archives: Economy

Interrogate the Sabal Trail pipeline in Gilchrist County 2014-02-20

Economy, Florida, Gilchrist County, Hazards, Law, Water, , , , , , , , ,

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, 17 February 2014 — On the agenda with questions from a citizens committee plus 3 minutes for local citizens to speak to the Gilchrist County Commission about the proposed Sabal Trail methane gas pipeline. Please remember to fill out a speaking card when you enter the building. Anyone from anywhere can come listen, or protest against the pipeline outside.

When:  5:00 PM
Thursday, February 20 th 2014

Where: BOCC Meeting Facility
210 South Main Street
Trenton, Florida 32693
(352) 463-3198

Pipeline? No! Why: Spectra Energy, which had compressor station leaks in Maine last month and in Pennsylvania last year, plus multiple fines by Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for corrosion and leaks, and a record $15 million EPA fine for PCB contamination, proposes a hundred-foot-wide gash Continue reading Interrogate the Sabal Trail pipeline in Gilchrist County 2014-02-20 →

Methane pipeline blew up onto Florida Turnpike next to high school

Corrosion, Economy, Explosion, Florida, Hazards, Health, Leak, Martin County, Safety, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Five years ago a natural gas pipeline blew up between the Florida Turnpike and I-95, flying a 104-foot piece of 18-inch pipe through the air, shutting down both roads, and fortunately missing a high school. NTSB determined it was the fault of the pipeline operator, Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC (FGT).

Ruptured pipeline and Florida Turnpike --WPTV5

The Accident: $606,360 Damage/Clean-Up Cost FGT was written up by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in NTSB/PAB-13/01 of 13 August 2013 for “Damage/Clean-up Cost: $606,360” in this 4 May 2009 incident near Palm City, Florida:

Rupture near Palm City

Probable cause: cracking, failure to manage, SCADA failure The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was environmentally assisted cracking under a disbonded polyethylene coating that remained undetected by the integrity management program. Contributing to the accident was Florida Gas Transmission Company’s failure to include the pipe section that ruptured in the integrity management program. Contributing to the prolonged gas release was the pipeline controller’s inability to detect the rupture because of SCADA system limitations and the configuration of the pipeline.

So NTSB said it was FGT’s fault.

And Florida and Martin County taxpayers had to pay for Continue reading Methane pipeline blew up onto Florida Turnpike next to high school →

Watch Osceola County Commission live at 1:30 PM today

Alabama, Colquitt County, Economy, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Gilchrist County, Hazards, Health, Lee County, Lowndes County, Osceola County, Safety, Water, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If you can’t get to Kissimmee today, you can watch it live on the Osceola County Commission’s website. And if you can’t get to that one, the pipelines are coming up at four other county commission meetings in Georgia and Florida from today through next week.

In addition to local landowner Monica Martin, she says the local Thai temple will also speak, Wat Florida Dhammaram, Theravāda Buddhist Temple.

And that’s not all:

Even many FPL allies oppose new methane pipelines, because of water, safety, health, fracking, property values, and other issues, and even county commissions in all three directly affected states (Lee County, Alabama started way back in May 2014) are having to respond to citizen concerns about unnecessary, environmentally damaging, and property-taking methane pipelines. Let’s go straight to solar and wind power!

-jsq

Even many FPL allies oppose new methane pipelines

Alabama, Economy, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Health, Martin County, Orange County, Osceola County, Safety, Water, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FPL and Spectra could lose, because many organizations and individuals don’t want dirty methane pipelines when we can go straight to conservation, efficiency, and solar and wind power.

Kevin Spear wrote for the Orlando Sentinel 19 January 2014 Pipeline to bring natural gas to state,

Florida Power & Light Co. is on the cusp of getting the pipeline it has long wanted to carry natural gas from elsewhere in the nation to Central and South Florida to run the utility’s power plants.

But the proposed $3.6 billion project, which FPL hopes to start using in 2017, has drawn mixed responses from even groups that are usually allies.

Among them, Audubon Florida lauds natural gas as cleaner than coal when burned by power plants, while Sierra Club Florida opposes the line as likely to ensure that the state becomes further addicted to the fuel at the expense of developing solar power.

Other negative reactions include:

  • Contention by many environmentalists that the use of natural gas on the whole — from drilling to consuming — is as damaging to the environment as the use of coal.
  • Concerns that the route of the proposed pipeline is potentially harmful to Florida wetlands and aquifers.
  • Criticism from some environmental groups that Continue reading Even many FPL allies oppose new methane pipelines →

Colquitt County Commission on Sabal Trail pipeline today and tomorrow

Colquitt County, Economy, Georgia, Law, , , , , , , , , ,

Colquitt County is actively investigating legal options about the methane pipeline Spectra Energy wants to gouge through here. Other county attorneys could be as active.

Alan Mauldin wrote for The Moultrie Observer 8 February 2014, County commission meetings to focus on Sabal Trail pipeline,

Colquitt County Commission will receive updates Monday and Tuesday on a proposed natural gas pipeline that could pass through the county.

County Attorney Lester Castellow, who reently met with his counterparts from Brooks, Doughterty and Lowndes counties, is scheduled to address commissioners about the project during a Monday afternoon commission work session.

And representatives of Sabal Trail, the company that is building an Alabama-to-Florida gas pipeline will address commissoiners at Tuesday night’s commission meeting.

“Basically we’re going to be discussing what a local govermnent can and cannot do relative to the planning and construction of an interstate gas pipeline,” Castellow said during a Friday telephone interview.

It’s on the agenda for the 12 noon Monday 10 February 2014 Work Session:

3. Lester Castellow, County Attorney – Potential Options for Sabal Trail Natural Gas Pipeline

That’s at Room 261-C, Courthouse Annex, 101 East Central Avenue, Moultrie, GA 31768.

Colquitt County’s calendar doesn’t say when the Tuesday 11 February Regular Session will be, but the previous one was at 7PM. Presumably the Regular Session will have an agenda similar to the Work Session.

The newspaper story concludes: Continue reading Colquitt County Commission on Sabal Trail pipeline today and tomorrow →

Farmer and lower income folks are people –James & Tracy Ryder to FERC

Brooks County, Economy, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Filed with FERC 2 December 2013:

James & Tracy Ryder, Tallahassee, FL.

Sirs:

We have been contacted by Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC regarding their proposed natural gas pipeline. In their contacts with us, they requested permission to survey our property in reference to one of the proposed corridors since we are already encumbered with the SONAT pipeline that run through the middle of our property. We were told that we should sign the consent because they would use eminent domain to access our property against our will if need be. In a public meeting we were told they were putting in a 24″ line that would provide gas to mid and south Florida. We have later learned that they are intending to put in a 36″ line that would not serve Florida, but would provide for exports from Florida. Sabal Trail has not been providing accurate, or clear information to the public regarding these pipeline endeavors. When we asked about alternate corridors, we were told they would not consider the alternate corridor that was originally proposed due to the fact that there were many people impacted.

Seriously, Brooks County may be the home to many a farmer and lower income folks, but I assure they are people and don’t deserve to be exploited for the potential gains in revenue and exportation of our limited natural resources. Continue reading Farmer and lower income folks are people –James & Tracy Ryder to FERC →

I adamantly oppose this proposed pipeline –Thomas Lovett to FERC

Brooks County, Economy, Environment, FERC, Georgia, Hazards, Safety, Trees, Water, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Filed with FERC 1 December 2013:

Thomas Lovett, Quitman, GA.
December 1, 2013

Thomas D. Lovett
250 Monument Church Road
Quitman, GA 31643

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20426

Re: FERC Docket No. PF-14-1

Dear FERC,

As a Brooks County, Georgia landowner who would be directly affected by Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC’s proposed pipeline, I adamantly oppose this proposed pipeline, for the reasons stated below.

The 36-inch pipeline/easement would cut a path approximately 5,480 feet long and 100 feet wide across our family farm, located at 250 Monument Church Road, Quitman, Georgia, 31643. Our family farm has been continuously owned by my family for more than 100 years. I live on the farm with my wife and two boys.

The pipeline, if allowed, would be approximately 680 feet directly behind our residence. It would be approximately 790 feet from nearby Morning Star Church Continue reading I adamantly oppose this proposed pipeline –Thomas Lovett to FERC →

Question the Sabal Trail pipeline in Osceola County 2014-02-10

Economy, Environment, FERC, Florida, Hazards, Law, Osceola County, Solar, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Update: 10 Feb 2014: Watch it online or go to one of several other upcoming county commission meetings.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, 6 February 2014 — Local landowner Monica Martin will speak to the Osceola County Commission about the proposed Sabal Trail methane gas pipeline and its effects on the aquifer, native wildlife, and the landscape, plus property values and property rights. Other local citizens may also speak in the same "Hear the Audience" section (turn in a "Request to Speak" form before the meeting). Anyone from anywhere can come listen, or protest against the pipeline outside.

When:  1:30 PM
Monday, February 10 th 2014

Where: Administration Building 4 th Floor
One Courthouse Square
Kissimmee, Florida 34741
407-742-2000

Why: Spectra Energy, which had compressor station leaks in Maine last month and in Pennsylvania last year, plus multiple fines by Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for corrosion and leaks, and a record $15 million EPA fine for PCB contamination, 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) and Duke Energy for no benefit to local citizens and rate hikes for FPL customers. A one-time payment is not enough Continue reading Question the Sabal Trail pipeline in Osceola County 2014-02-10 →

How does this pipeline benefit the public by taking land from the public?

Economy, FERC, Hazards, Law, Safety, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Received Sunday on Stranded fossil fuel assets. -jsq

Governmental eminent domain powers have been growing for more than 115 years, to the point where courts have upheld the taking of property from one private owner for the purpose of transferring it to another, as long as it benefits the public. The Natural Gas Act delegates eminent domain powers to the pipeline companies, subject to court approval. However there’s no mechanism in place to dispute the taking. Things to consider:

  • How does this benefit the public by taking land from the public?
  • Is there an irrefutable study that shows this act of taking of private land is justifiable by needs other than capitalistic greed?
  • Also, what about the mineral rights of the property?
  • How many “pipes” or infrastructures can the Pipeline Company sell or lease access to other entities without any future benefits paid to the original land owners?
  • Are all Continue reading How does this pipeline benefit the public by taking land from the public? →

I just don’t think they should be allowed to deface my property –Irvin Allegood to FERC

Colquitt County, Economy, FERC, Georgia, Law, Trees, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Colquitt County landowner Irvin Allegood came to the do-over Sabal Trail Open House in Moultrie 27 January 2014 so he could tell FERC he wasn’t going to allow another pipeline. He wasn’t the only one, but he especially wanted video, so here he is, talking to John Peconom of FERC.

…the existing pipeline comes through the front corner.

I just don’t think that they should be allowed to, basically, to deface my property. …losing that road, if they put two pipelines on my property.

Their first suggestion, was they would destroy… as far as my property was concerned. all of the wooded area. There’s old growth pines in there, the run of a creek. We’re just not going to allow that to happen.

If they put it on the other side of the existing pipeline. I’ve been planning to put my shop out there when I retire in a couple of years.

Here’s the video:


I just don’t think they should be allowed to deface my property –Irvin Allegood to FERC
Video by John S. Quarterman for SpectraBusters.org,
Moultrie, Colquitt County GA, 27 January 2014.

FERC rep. John Peconom then wanted to be sure to get the spelling of Irvin Allegood’s name, and where his property was. It wasn’t on the map hanging right there, so they looked at the maps on Peconom’s laptop. Peconom had no direct response to the basic point of the pipeline defacing property, or tearing down trees.

You can easily see the existing pipeline on google maps: Continue reading I just don’t think they should be allowed to deface my property –Irvin Allegood to FERC →