Tag Archives: Law

Atlantic Sunrise pipeline in Penn. same problems as Sabal Trail

January 18, 2016Alabama, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Law, LNG, PennsylvaniaAlabama, Atlantic Sunrise, Chris Hedges, Cove Point LNG export, Elba Island LNG export, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hillabee Expansion Project, John S. Quarterman, Lancaster Against Pipelines, Lancaster County, LAP, Law, LNG, Mark Clatterbuck, Pennsylvania, SpectraBusters, Thomas Linzey, Williams CompanyJohn S. Quarterman

First the good news: a Pennsylvania pipeline protester had all charges dismissed for videoing license plates at a pipeline construction site. All of those plates were from out of state: so much for pipeline company promises of local construction jobs. Much else going on in Pennsylvania sounds very familiar.

Tom Knapp, LancasterOnline, 13 November 2015, Pipeline protester not guilty of disorderly conduct for filming at construction site,

Mark Clatterbuck, a Martic Township resident and professor of religion at Montclair State University in New Jersey, was issued a summons by state police after videotaping out-of-state license plates of subcontractors working at the Williams Gas pipeline project.

The incident occurred Continue reading Atlantic Sunrise pipeline in Penn. same problems as Sabal Trail →

The LNG export shell game: FERC, FE, MARAD, or NEB?

January 9, 2016British Columbia, Economy, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Law, LNG, MARAD, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Oregon, Solar, Suwannee County, Texas, WaterAES, Bahamas, Big Bend, boondoggle, British Columbia, Calypso LNG, Coos Bay, Cove Point LNG, Economy, Elba Island LNG, Ethics, FE, FERC, Florida, FPL, Georgia, greed, Hudson River, Jacksonville Expansion Project, Jaxport, JEP, John S. Quarterman, Kinder Morgan, KMI, Law, LNG, Manhattan, MARAD, Maryland, Mexico, NE, NextEra Energy, Nova Scotia, Ocean Express, Oregon, Oregon LNG export, Port Dolphin, Port Everglades, profit, Rio Grande, Sabal Trail Transmission, shell game, solar, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, Strom, Suwannee County, Suwannee River, Texas, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

If you’re a Houston fossil fuel company and you can’t get FERC approval fast enough, try FE, or MARAD! If that doesn’t work, ship it by land through Canada or Mexico! Local property rights, they laugh at those! Rio Grande, Suwannee River, or Hudson River: just minor obstacles to greed! If the people are tired of profit being more important than their land, water, air, or safety, it’s time to stop this fossil fuel shell game.

MARAD

Continue reading →

Petition for GAO to rein in FERC

January 2, 2016Ethics, FERC, LawBernie Sanders, boondoggle, corruption, Delaware Riverkeeper, Elizabeth Warren, Ethics, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, GAO, Government Accountability Office, John S. Quarterman, lapdog, Law, Maya K. van Rossum, regulatory capture loopholes, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, SpectraBustersJohn S. Quarterman

Please sign this petition for an independent investigation of FERC by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Or call or write your own members of Congress and ask them to investigate FERC and rein in its rubberstamping of new fossil fuel projects.

FERC has actually denied two pipelines out of a huge number of applications. Both were part of LNG import projects. One of them was about hardship to mineral interest donors, and a fair FERC would conclude hardship to everyone who depends on the Floridan Aquifer for their sole source of drinking water would be more than sufficient reason to deny Sabal Trail. The other`was a Spectra pipeline, so even mighty Spectra can lose at FERC.

But it’s hard for any new fossil fuel project to lose at FERC because FERC brags about “Full Cost Recovery” meaning 100% of FERC’s annual Congressional allocation is paid back out of fees and charges from the very industries FERC supposedly “regulates”. This is what Investopedia defines as regulatory capture: Continue reading Petition for GAO to rein in FERC →

FERC rubberstamped FEIS for Sabal Trail today 2015-12-18

December 18, 2015FERC, Law, WaterAir, Duke Energy, FEIS, FERC, Final Environmental Impact Statement, FPL, John S. Quarterman, Law, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, WaterJohn S. Quarterman

Just before Christmas, when the fewest people will be paying attention, FERC just issued for Sabal Trail, FSC, and Transco Hillabee the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), aiming at March to rubberstamp a permit. You can still ecomment to FERC, or to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or to GA-EPD or ask your local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials to oppose this unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous boondoggle.

Curious how EPA changed its tune just before the FEIS.

Accession Number: 20151218-4001, “Final Environmental Impact Statement Volume I re the Southeast Market Pipelines Project under CP14-554 et al. Dated December”, with an announcement, Continue reading FERC rubberstamped FEIS for Sabal Trail today 2015-12-18 →

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 →

Sabal Trail not on GA State Properties Commission Agenda

October 17, 2015Georgia, LawChattahoochee River, Flint River, Georgia, John S. Quarterman, Law, Nathan Deal, Ochlockonee River, Okapilco Creek, Sabal Trail Transmission, Spectra Energy, SpectraBusters, State Properties Commission, Withlacoochee RiverJohn S. Quarterman

The Georgia State Properties Commission agenda for Wednesday has nothing 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 →

Videos: Citizens against Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail pipeline to FERC in Albany, Moultrie, Valdosta, and Lake City

October 3, 2015Colquitt County, Columbia County, Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, Ethics, FERC, Florida, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, Law, Lowndes County, WaterAlbany, Colquitt County, Columbia County, community, compressor, Dougherty County, eminent domain, environment, Ethics, FERC, Flint River, Flint Riverkeeper, Florida, Floridan Aquifer, Fracking, Georgia, Hazards, John S. Quarterman, Lake City, Law, Lowndes County, Moultrie, Okapilco Creek, Our Santa Fe River, people, property rights, SpectraBusters, Suwannee River, Valdosta, Water, Withlacoochee River, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

Citizens renamed Sabal Trail the Sinkhole Pipeline because it doesn’t belong in the sinkhole-prone karst limestone of the Floridan Aquifer. FERC can’t say they weren’t told, since videographers followed them through all four cities so far; see for yourself.

Albany, Monday 28 September 2015, videos by Thomas Swain

Moultrie, Tuesday 29 September 2015, videos by Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE)

“You tell us you’re sorry and it happens again”, said Continue reading Videos: Citizens against Sabal “Sinkhole” Trail pipeline to FERC in Albany, Moultrie, Valdosta, and Lake City →

Citizens oppose Sabal Trail in Albany, Moultrie, and Valdosta this week –WTOC, Albany, GA

September 28, 2015Brooks County, Colquitt County, Compressor, Dougherty County, Environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, Law, Lee County, Lowndes County, Safety, Suwannee CountyAlbany, Brooks County, Colquitt County, compressor, Dougherty County, environment, FERC, Florida, Georgia, Hamilton County, John S. Quarterman, Law, Lee County, Lowndes County, Mitchell County, Moultrie, Safety, SpectraBusters, Suwannee County, Terrell County, Valdosta, WTOCJohn S. Quarterman

Property rights, environment, health, and safety are why citizens oppose Sabal Trail, including tonight in Albany or Tuesday in Moultrie or Wednesday in Valdosta. Be sure to show up by 5:30 PM to sign up to speak.

Caitlyn Chastain, WTOC, 28 September 2015, Public meetings ahead for Sabal Trail Pipeline, starting today,

It’s a project that has gained a lot of attention and a lot of criticism.

Many people are concerned Continue reading Citizens oppose Sabal Trail in Albany, Moultrie, and Valdosta this week –WTOC, Albany, GA →

LTE opposing GA-DNR giving away easements to Sabal Trail –FrK, WWALS, GA Sierra Club

September 21, 2015Georgia, Law, WaterDepartment of Natural Resources, easement, Flint Riverkeeper, GA DNR, Georgia, Jeff Sinyard, John S. Quarterman, Law, license, Mark Woodall, S. Gordon Rogers, Sabal Trail Transmission, Sierra Club, Spectra Energy, Water, WWALS Watershed CoalitionJohn S. Quarterman

And you can contact other GA-DNR board members, send them comments, or go to the meeting Wednesday morning 9AM in Atlanta. -jsq

Jeff Sinyard represents southwest Georgia on the Board of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He is our voice on that very important and powerful Board.
Sabal Trail Pipeline needs easements granted by the DNR Board to pass under key southwest and south-central Georgia rivers and creeks. Elsewhere in Georgia, over to the east and on the coast, Governor Deal’s DOT recently blocked the use of eminent domain for a gas and diesel pipeline. The Governor Continue reading LTE opposing GA-DNR giving away easements to Sabal Trail –FrK, WWALS, GA Sierra Club →