Tag Archives: John S. Quarterman

We were told to shut up or quit –Spectra Energy whistleblowers

Even Spectra workers sometimes develop a conscience. These whistleblowers are not the first, and thirty years of Spectra’s sordid safety record agrees with them. Tonight you can help stop Spectra from drilling under the Suwannee River in Florida, and that will help stop Spectra in Burrillville, Rhode Island.

Steve Ahlquist, RI Future.org, 30 November 2015, Former inspectors allege safety issues with Spectra pipeline project,

Two safety inspectors who worked on Spectra Energy’s proposed methane gas pipeline that will cut through Burrillville, RI, say the company cut corners when it came to project, worker and environmental safety.

“Right now, what they’re hoping to do, is they’re hoping to slam all this through, and then at the end ask for forgiveness,” said one of the former inspectors. “Oops, sorry about that, I didn’t know, let me write you a check. Because once this thing’s turning meter, they’re going to be making millions of dollars a day. It doesn’t matter what your problems are…”

The other added, “We were told to shut the fuck up or quit.”

Both men, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, were subcontracted by Spectra and both were Continue reading We were told to shut up or quit –Spectra Energy whistleblowers

Petition against Sabal Trail by Gulf Restoration Network

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

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

Sierra Club opposes new natural gas electric generating units: good news against Sabal Trail

The excuse for Spectra’s Sabal Trail pipeline is new natural gas electric generating units in Florida. FPL calls this “modernizing“, which is an odd word for using 20th century fossil fuels when 21st century solar power, conservation, and efficiency is ready right now for the Sunshine State. Adding to their opposition to LNG export, the Sierra Club Board of Directors has adopted this new policy:

“Natural Gas: The Sierra Club opposes new electric generating units powered by natural gas, including peaking and combined cycle units. Consistent with the Board’s goal of eliminating all fossil fuels from the electric sector no later than 2030, it is critical that the US avoid further high-capital investments in new natural gas plants and related infrastructure.”

This is in Sierra Club’s Continue reading Sierra Club opposes new natural gas electric generating units: good news against Sabal Trail

Confirmed: Resolution against Sabal Trail today at Suwannee County Commission 2015-11-17

Suwannee County residents please come speak, and everyone else please come be seen (you can speak, too). Facebook event. Come defend property rights, water, and air in Suwannee County from the Sabal Trail invader, and that helps defend where you are, too.

When: 6PM Tuesday 17 November 2015

Where: 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida, 32064

2015-11-03--suwbocc

From the draft minutes of the Nov. 3rd meeting Continue reading Confirmed: Resolution against Sabal Trail today at Suwannee County Commission 2015-11-17

U.S. rejects Keystone XL: next let’s stop Sabal Trail!

Thanks to Bill McKibben and everyone else who made that pipeline an international cause. Now let’s stop Spectra’s Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail and keep Kinder Morgan’s Palmetto pipeline denied. And let’s stop the Trans-Pacific Parternership (TPP) before it can produce more “free trade” countries for LNG export.

Coral Davenport, New York Times, 6 November 2015, Obama Rejects Construction of Keystone XL Oil Pipeline,

President Obama’s denial of the proposed 1,179-mile pipeline, which would have carried 800,000 barrels a day of carbon-heavy petroleum from the Canadian oil sands to the Gulf Coast, comes as he is seeking to build an ambitious legacy on climate change.

“The pipeline would not make a meaningful longterm contribution to our economy,” Mr. Obama said in remarks from the White House.

The move was made ahead of Continue reading U.S. rejects Keystone XL: next let’s stop Sabal Trail!

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

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

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

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

Letter to FERC 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

Public Hearing, Air Quality, Sabal Trail Albany Compressor –GA-EPD 2015-11-05

6:30 PM 5 November 2015 at Albany Technical College. Here’s the EPD Press Release:

Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division Air Protection Branch
4244 International Parkway Suite 120 Atlanta Georgia 30354
404/363-7000 • Fax: 404/363-7100
Judson H. Turner, Director

Notice For Immediate Release Contact: Thomas Smith — 404-362-2790

EPD to Host Q&A Session and Public Hearing in Albany
on Sabal Trail Air Quality Permit Application

(ATLANTA — October 21, 2015) — The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) will host a forum on Thursday, Nov. 5 Continue reading Public Hearing, Air Quality, Sabal Trail Albany Compressor –GA-EPD 2015-11-05

Sabal Trail not on GA State Properties Commission Agenda

The Georgia State Properties Commission agenda for Wednesday has nothing Notice on it about Sabal Trail or easements under Georgia rivers. So the river land giveaway by the GA DNR board last month will not be confirmed this month. So there’s more time to contact the SPC board to stop Sabal Trail from crossing the Withlacoochee River, Okapilco Creek, Ochlockonee River, Flint River, and Chattahoochee River.

SPC doesn’t provide any contacts for their board members, but here are their main contacts:

270 Washington Street, Suite 2-129
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
www.howsmyservice.spc.ga.gov

Steve Stancil, State Property Officer, 404-656-3253
Marvin Woodward, Deputy State Property Officer, 404-463-5608
Frank Smith, Deputy Executive Director, 404-656-5602

And we know how to reach the governor’s office: (404) 656-1776.

Somebody should go Continue reading Sabal Trail not on GA State Properties Commission Agenda