Tag Archives: environment

Deadline 24 Dec 2014 to intervene or comment on Sabal Trail

December 9, 2014Environment, FERC, Lawcomment, CP15-17, deadline, environment, FERC, intervene, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

FERC set a deadline of only three weeks for motions to intervene, and apparently also for commenting, on Sabal Trail’s formal permit filing in Docket CP15-17. It’s time for opponent organizations and individuals to get their interventions and comments in, including requesting an extension of this absurbly short comment period. Elected officials can help, from local county and city governments to state legislatures and agencies, to Congress members and federal agencies. If you ever want to appeal or be a party to any legal proceedings, you must file to intervene. Now’s the time!

Update 2014-12-17: How to file a motion to intervene.

Update 2014-12-15: A couple of examples to illustrate that a motion to intervene can be very simple, with nothing more than organization name, contact information, docket number, and a paragraph of Basis of Information: Florida Gas Transmission and Florida Natural Gas. If fossil fuel companies can do it, pipeline opponents can do it. You can also post a selfie with your intervention. Give Sabal Trail a Christmas present to remember!

Sabal Trail had a full year to develop the hundreds of pages of material it filed November 21^st but FERC’s December 3^rd notice gave only three weeks for opponents to digest all that mass of information and produce coherent comments. And to make it even harder, major parts of Sabal Trail’s filing are marked “CONTAINS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION — DO NOT RELEASE”.

That’s right, Sabal Trail filed at Thanksgiving, and FERC expects all comments or motions to intervene by Christmas. Happy Holidays!

Filed with FERC 3 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141203-3021, “Notice of Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC’s application requesting authorization to construct, own, and operate a new 500-mile natural gas pipeline system etc under CP15-17 et al” Continue reading Deadline 24 Dec 2014 to intervene or comment on Sabal Trail →

Sabal Trail is bullying its way –Alton Burns to FERC Chair

December 3, 2014Environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, LNG, WaterAlton Burns, Coolidge, environment, FERC, Florida, Floridan Aquifer, geology, Georgia, Green Swamp, Ichetucknee River, John S. Quarterman, karst, Law, limestone, LNG, overpumping, pollution, Rainbow River, rivers, Santa Fe River, sinkhole, SpectraBusters, springs, Thomas County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Email FERC Commissioners directly, and it still gets filed as an ecomment, as a Thomas County, Georgia resident demonstrated. And remember FERC could pick Alternative 3 which goes through Thomas County.

Filed with FERC 1 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141201-4002,

From: Alton Burns
Date: November 27, 2014 at 10:55:20 PM EST
To: <cheryl.lafleur@ferc.gov>
Subject: Re: PF14-1-000 Sabal Trail Transmission LLC
Dear Chairman LaFleur,
Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC is seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for its 300 mile Florida natural gas pipeline and will submit its preferred pipeline route soon. This certificate should be denied. When determining the issue of ‘need’, Sabal Trail’s own Draft Resource Report states: Continue reading Sabal Trail is bullying its way –Alton Burns to FERC Chair →

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 28, 2014Alabama, Economy, Environment, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, LNG, Solar, WaterAlabama, Allies, Economy, environment, Florida, FPL, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, LNG, Sabal Trail Transmission, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Thanksgiving, Water, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

Dear SpectraBusters and Allies,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks to all who get out on the street, into the halls of government, or on the media: public awareness is the key to winning this fight.

Thanks to all who quietly and often anonymously help Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving! →

Bike Lines to stop Pipe Lines 22-25 Nov 2014

November 20, 2014Dougherty County, Economy, Environment, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Sumter CountyAlbany, Americus, bicycle, Clarke County, Dougherty County, Economy, environment, Fracking, GCCC, Georgia, Georgia Climate Change Coalition, Gretchen Elsner, pipeline, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Sumter CountyJohn S. Quarterman

200 miles from Athens to Albany, Saturday November 22nd through Tuesday November 25th. (PDF)

Ride supported by the Georgia Climate Change Coalition & Georgia Bikes! Continue reading Bike Lines to stop Pipe Lines 22-25 Nov 2014 →

I am opposed to Sabal Trail’s Alternative –GA Rep. Gerald Greene to FERC

November 20, 2014Agriculture, Dougherty County, Economy, Environment, Georgia, WaterAgriculture, Dougherty County, Economy, environment, Georgia, Gerald Greene, John S. Quarterman, Mark Daniel, Mark's Melon Patch, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sasser Route Alternative, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Terrell County, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

“I am concerned after studying, talking to individuals and the environmental and economic impact that I am opposed to the alternative route.”

Dated 10 November 2014, filed by FERC 18 November 2014 as Accession Number: 20141118-0021, Continue reading I am opposed to Sabal Trail’s Alternative –GA Rep. Gerald Greene to FERC →

Why accepting a natural gas easement is a bad deal

November 16, 2014Environment, Ethics, FE, FERC, Fracking, Hazards, History, Law, LNG, Solareasement, environment, Ethics, FE, FERC, Fracking, Government, Hazards, History, John S. Quarterman, Jon Wellinghoff, Kinder Morgan, KMI, Law, LNG, LNG export, national security, solar, SONAT, Southern Natural Gas, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Here are a few things you get with a pipeline easement: no right to grow trees on it, limited right to put up fences, and if you do, you have to have gates in them that the pipeline company can put their own lock on. But you do get to continue to pay taxes on land you can no longer fully use; land that now contains a potentially corrosive, leaky, explosive hazard that you can’t tap for your own use. And you do get pipeline company contractors coming through at their convenience to mow or otherwise clear the right of way. Contractors who may be somewhat unclear on where the right of way ends and your trees, for example, start. Without ever having to notify you then or tell you later what happened. And it’s even worse than that: you may get another pipeline, and meanwhile the pipeline company will claim rights over local governments and developments. All while the world has changed and the sun has risen on a better way.

All bets are off if there’s a pipeline break

Continue reading →

Find that Sabal Trail has not met its burden to show the pipeline is needed –Winfred Dukes

November 14, 2014Dougherty County, Environment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, Safety, WaterAlbany, Dinorah Hall, Dougherty County, enfironmental justice, environment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, FPL, Georgia, Gloria Gains, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Steven D. Caley, Water, Winfred Dukes, Winfred J. DukesJohn S. Quarterman

Produce the agreements that allegedly justify need:

Again, if SST is going to rely on precedent agreements to justify taking people’s private property by eminent domain, it should at least be required to produce the agreements.

And this:

Based on all of the above. it does not require much of a leap to assume that SST is planning to take people’s private property for private profit by enabling one of its parent owners.

Filed with FERC 14 November 2014, Comment of Gloria Gaines under PF14-1, submitted on behalf of State Representative Winfred Dukes. Continue reading Find that Sabal Trail has not met its burden to show the pipeline is needed –Winfred Dukes →

Agriculture over pipeline: Terrell County resolution against Sabal Trail

November 13, 2014Agriculture, Compressor, Economy, Environment, FERC, Georgia, Safety, WaterAgriculture, agritourism, compressor, creeks, cultural, Economy, environment, FERC, forest, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, socioeconomic, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, streams, Terrell County, Water, wetland, wildlifeJohn S. Quarterman

Agritourism, economy, and environment were among the reasons Terrell County followed Dougherty County and passed a resolution against the Sabal Trail pipeline. FERC didn’t post the County Chairman’s cover letter, but the County Clerk sent it to me. What else has FERC neglected to post?

Filed with FERC 13 November 2014, Protest of Terrell County Board of Commissioners (Georgia) under PF14-1.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Spectra Energy of Houston, Texas has proposed building a $3.7 Billion, 460-mile gas pipeline from Central Alabama to Central Florida known as the Sabal Trail, and:

WHEREAS, a growing contingency of local and area residents have expressed opposition to construction of the pipeline and compressor stations used to force the natural gas through the pipelines, and:

WHEREAS, The construction of the pipeline through Terrell County, Georgia will severely impact agricultural and agiitourism businesses located in the county, and:

WHEREAS, it is clear to this board that the Sabal Trail will not Continue reading Agriculture over pipeline: Terrell County resolution against Sabal Trail →

FERC recovers cost of operations through charges and fees from the industries it regulates –FERC FY14 Budget

November 12, 2014Alabama, Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, History, Law, LNG, Lowndes County, Maryland, Suwannee County, WaterAlabama, appropriation, charges, compressor, Congress, corruption, Cove Point LNG, Dougherty County, Economy, environment, Federal Power Act, fees, FERC, Florida, FPA, Georgia, Hamilton County, History, John S. Quarterman, Law, LNG, Lowndes County, Maryland, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Treasury, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Don’t believe FERC is funded by the industries it regulates? Well, let’s look beyond FERC’s own About web page to its actual funding request to Congress. Maybe that will motivate you to ecomment to FERC right now, and to contact your local, state, and national elected and appointed officials.

Acting Chairman Cheryl A. LaFleur, FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, FY 2015 Congressional Performance Budget Request,

Full Cost Recovery

The Commission recovers the full cost of its operations through annual charges and filing fees assessed on the industries it regulates as authorized by the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. The Commission deposits this revenue into the Treasury as a direct offset to its appropriation, resulting in no net appropriation.

Clear enough that FERC is 100% funded by the industries it regulates?

That may seem like a win for the taxpayers. But is it a win for you the local landowners Continue reading FERC recovers cost of operations through charges and fees from the industries it regulates –FERC FY14 Budget →

Dougherty County passed a resolution against the Sabal Trail pipeline

October 28, 2014Dougherty County, Environment, FERC, Georgia, SafetyAlbany, Albany Herald, burden of proof, Dougherty County, environment, FERC, FPL, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, need, Sabal Trail Transmission, Safety, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, WALB, WFXLJohn S. Quarterman

Sabal Trail has not met its burden of proof of need, and its pipeline would be hazardous to environment and safety, resolved the Dougherty County Commission Monday. And now news media call it the “the pipeline fight” and the “controversial pipeline”. Visitors to Albany tell me people now bring up the pipeline unprompted in conversation. Last week’s very bad media week for Sabal Trail continues to get worse this week.

Franklin White, WFXL, 27 October 2014, Another step in the pipeline fight,

Officials say in the past year they’ve written four letters to Sabal Trails on behalf of Dougherty County citizens and businesses.

They say after the September meeting when Sabal Trail officials came to Dougherty County to explain why they chose SWGA to build the pipeline, County Commissioners found pipeline would do more harm than good.

Dougherty County Attorney Spencer Lee says, “they found there is no need for it and it’s likely to harm the environment and our socio-economic and culture activities.”

Continue reading →