Tag Archives: Georgia

EPD will hold a public hearing about Sabal Trail compressor air quality permit

August 20, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Georgia, Hazards, WaterAir, Albany, comment period, compressor, Dougherty County, EPD, Eric Cornwell, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, public hearing, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

There will be another public comment period and a public hearing on Sabal Trail’s latest air quality permit application, said Eric Cornwell of GA-EPD just now by telephone. He also said:

“So far, nobody seems to want this thing. Usually somebody is for jobs or taxes, but not this time. One of the first times I’ve run into a situation where neither the residents nor the county officials want it.”

I mentioned that more than a year ago in Gilchrist County, Florida, Sabal Trail had admitted they had already Continue reading EPD will hold a public hearing about Sabal Trail compressor air quality permit →

New sinkhole in Lowndes County terrain Sabal Trail wants to gouge through

August 6, 2015Florida, Georgia, Hazards, Lowndes County, Solar, WaterAct of God, Assumption Parish, drinking water, FGT, Florida, Florida Gas Transmission, Floridan Aquifer, Force Majeure, fragile, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, karst, limestone, Louisiana, Lowndes County, Sabal Trail Transmission, Shiloh Road, sinkhole, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Twice in five years a sinkhole big enough to risk rerouting a road appears in Lowndes County, Georgia, in the same fragile karst limestone Valdosta limesink terrain Sabal Trail proposes to gouge through What if a sinkhole drops under that pipeline, and, like FGT in 2013, Sabal Trail declares force majeure and doesn’t pay?

See On the LAKE Front, 2015-08-06, County and news media digging deeper on Shiloh sinkhole story, Continue reading New sinkhole in Lowndes County terrain Sabal Trail wants to gouge through →

Building the pipeline would endanger the quality of the ecosystem –Rosanne Lewis

August 6, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, FERC, Georgia, Treescompressor, coyote, deer, Department of Natural Resources, Dougherty County, environment, FERC, GA DNR, Georgia, gopher tortoise, John S. Quarterman, pileated woodpeckers, quail, SpectraBusters, Trees, turkey, wetlandsJohn S. Quarterman

Will Spectra sue to avoid protecting gopher tortoises like it challenged a fine for not protecting the western toad? Here’s a comment on We are outraged…:

As a resident of Dougherty county, Georgia, I feel it imperative that I voice my opposition to the proposed path of the Sabal pipeline through the property behind my home. The land where the proposed pipeline is to be located is home to several endangered species, as well as several areas of wetlands. In walking the property during the winter months, we have seen gopher tortoises, Continue reading Building the pipeline would endanger the quality of the ecosystem –Rosanne Lewis →

We are outraged about a proposed gas pipeline cutting through our property!! –Sarah Phillips to GA-DNR

August 5, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, Georgia, Treesair quality permit, church, compressor, deer, Department of Natural Resources, Dougherty County, ducks, Education, environment, GA DNR, Georgia, gopher tortoises, habitat, John S. Quarterman, pileated woodpeckers, ponds, Religion, school, SpectraBusters, stewards, treasure, Trees, wetlands, wild turkeyJohn S. Quarterman

Yes, how about a public hearing run by GA-DNR where Sabal Trail actually has to answer questions in public? GA-DNR may not publish comments about that proposed Sabal Trail air quality permit, deadline August 7th, but we asked for citizens to copy SpectraBusters for publication, and this one did.

From: Sarah Phillips
Date: August 4, 2015 at 2:26:52 PM EDT
To: eric.cornwell@gadnr.org
Subject: Application #23350
Mr. Cornwell, I am a resident of Dougherty County, and we own the land behind our house through which Sabal Trail proposes to clearcut a wide swath to run their natural gas pipeline. These 800 acres are a habitat for several gopher tortoises, a few pileated woodpeckers, wild turkey, ducks and deer. We have wetlands and wet weather ponds. We are good stewards of this land, and we treasure it. We are outraged about a proposed gas pipeline cutting through our property!!

Dougherty County is the only Continue reading We are outraged about a proposed gas pipeline cutting through our property!! –Sarah Phillips to GA-DNR →

Albany, GA attorney missing the point about ordinance against pipelines

August 5, 2015Dougherty County, Fracking, Georgia, Law, New York, PennsylvaniaAlbany, Dougherty County, Fracking, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Law, New York, Pennsylvania, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

County attorneys are paid to be cautious. County and city Commissioners are elected to represent the people. Which will Albany and Dougherty County listen to about unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous pipelines like Sabal Trail?

Carlton Fletcher, Albany Herald, 4 August 2014, LOCAL GOVERNMENT 101: Albany’s municipal government based on charter, codes,

Dougherty County officials, who represent residents outside the city limits, say municipalities like Albany have more governmental flexibility in that they are not completely bound by state mandates. But Albany’s city attorney says that is not exactly accurate.

“The state has the authority to preempt any local laws other than zoning,” Nathan Davis says. “If state law ‘moves into an area’ — such as the fireworks law that went into effect in July — municipalities must have a local ordinance that matches the state law.

“There has been in our community a call by some to create an ordinance that would impact the ultimate decision of whether that (Sabal Trail Transmission) pipeline is allowed Continue reading Albany, GA attorney missing the point about ordinance against pipelines →

Call to Action by State Representative Darrel Bush Ealum

August 1, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Economy, Environment, GeorgiaAlbany, compressor, Darrel Bush Ealum, Dougherty County, Economy, environment, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Nathan Deal, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Now’s the time to ask your state legislators to help Rep. Ealum oppose Sabal Trail’s proposed fracked methane pipeline. Here’s a handy table of all the Georgia state House and Senate members from the counties along the proposed pipeline path.

You may want to mention the August 7th deadline for comments to GA-EPD about the proposed Albany compressor station.

And don’t forget to call Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and sign the petition to him, and you can still ecomment to FERC.

Urgent Alert

Call to Action by State Representative Darrel Bush Ealum (PDF)

Darrel Bush Ealum, State Representative, Georgia House District 153 met with Governor Deal to discuss the serious environmental and cumulative impact that the proposed SABAL Trail transmission line and compressor station will have on the posed nine counties it will pass through in Georgia.

Governor Deal was Continue reading Call to Action by State Representative Darrel Bush Ealum →

August 7th deadline to comment to GA-EPD about Sabal Trail Albany compressor station

August 1, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, GeorgiaAir Protection Branch, Air Quality Permits, Albany Compressor Station, compressor, Department of Natural Resources, Dougherty County, GA DNR, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Get your comments in ASAP to GA-EDP about the proposed Sabal Trail Albany compressor station air quality permit: the deadline is Friday August 7th. As Roger Marietta suggested, you can ask for a public hearing, as well.

That’s the same date WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. will be sending a petition for a hearing to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection about FL-DEP’s intent to issue a permit for Sabal Trail to gouge through Florida waters, including boring under the Suwannee, Santa Fe, and Withlacoochee (central) Rivers. WWALS got an extension until that date. Anyone who wants to help with that, please contact wwalswatershed@gmail.com.

Don’t forget to call Georgia Governor Deal and sign the petition to him.

EPD Public Advisory for the Week of July 6, 2015 (PA0715-2), Continue reading August 7th deadline to comment to GA-EPD about Sabal Trail Albany compressor station →

Contact table of all GA state legislators in Sabal Trail proposed path

August 1, 2015GeorgiaGeorgia, John S. Quarterman, legislature, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Thanks to the fine folks in Dougherty County, here’s a handy table of all the Georgia state representatives and senators along Sabal Trail’s proposed pipeline path in Georgia.

Please use this table before August 7th to ask your state legislators to oppose Sabal Trail’s requested air quality permit from GA-EPD for the proposed Albany compressor station.

And you can use it right now to contact your legislators about helping Rep. Darrel Bush Ealum oppose that pipeline.

-jsq

Comment to GA-EPD on Sabal Trail air quality permit application by 2015-08-08

July 25, 2015Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, Georgia, LawAir, air quality, Albany, compressor, Dougherty County, environment, Eric Cornwell, GA EPD, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Law, Roger Marietta, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

An air quality permit for the proposed Albany compressor station is one of many local and state permits FERC requires Sabal Trail to get. This is a big one, because no compressor station, no pipeline.

Roger Marietta remarks:

You can email Georgia EPD prior to August 8th GA EPD: eric.cornwell@gadnr.org re: application # 23350 (Air Quality Permit Application) focus on methane and other toxic gases leaking and being blown off during pressure releases and unburnt gases and CO2 from the continuously running compressor station power turbines. Ask for a public hearing as well.

Recommend you send more than one comment and focus on a different issue each time.

Copy spectrabusters@gmail.com on your ecomment to GA-EPD and we’ll probably blog it.

And don’t forget to call GA Governor Deal and sign the petition to him.

Do it now, or you may hear that compressor sound in your sleep.

-jsq

Albany City Commission to convene a meeting with Dougherty County Commissioners, Congressional and State delegates to discuss Sabal Pipeline

July 24, 2015Dougherty County, GeorgiaDougherty County, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Dougherty County, escalating after resolutions and letters to FERC and multiple protests, now sees its Albany City government calling for a combined meeting of local, state, and federal elected officials to stop the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline from invading southwest Georgia for profit of a company in Houston, Texas and no local benefits; only destruction and hazards.

Here’s the agenda item:

AGENDA
BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015
6:00 PM — EARLY BRIEFING — ROOM 120
6:30 PM — REGULAR MEETING — ROOM 100

…

III. Recommendation of the Committee of the Whole to convene a meeting with Dougherty County Commissioners, Congressional and State delegates to discuss Sabal Pipeline

That city/county/state/federal meeting will be Continue reading Albany City Commission to convene a meeting with Dougherty County Commissioners, Congressional and State delegates to discuss Sabal Pipeline →