Tag Archives: Withlacoochee River

Live Oak and Branford Open Houses: Suwannee County and Levy County

This newspaper didn’t mention Suwannee County, Florida may be getting a compressor station. And remember, the proposed pipeline path crosses the Withlacoochee River a second time just before crossing the Suwannee River to enter Suwannee County.

All of the Open Houses required by FERC, are listed on the calendar. They resume Monday evening in Lumpkin, GA and Williston, FL. Before that, Monday morning, the Lowndes County Commission, Georgia, is having Spectra speak at their 8:30 AM Monday 9 December Work Session, to answer questions submitted in advance by the public.

Suwannee Democrat, 30 November 2013, Public invited to proposed gas pipeline open house events,

Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC will be hosting two open house meetings for the interested public to learn more about the underground natural gas pipeline project that is proposed to come through Suwannee County.

The public is invited to attend the meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Coliseum (11th Street/Fairgrounds) in Live Oak and on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Branford High School (405 S Reynolds St., Branford).

They also included “As previously reported by the Suwannee Democrat”:

Natural gas pipeline to extend 40 miles in Suwannee County

500 landowners could be affected

By Bryant Thigpen

bryant.thigpen@gaflnews.com

Sabal Trail Transmission has announced their intent to construct a natural gas pipeline which will run approximately 40 miles in Suwannee County, according to Andrea Grover, spokesperson for Sabal Trail Transmission. Plans are underway to construct a natural gas pipeline from North Alabama to Central Florida and could be constructed as early as Summer 2016.

If the proposed map remains unchanged, the pipeline is about 470 miles long and will make its way through four Alabama counties, nine Georgia counties and 12 Florida counties, including Suwannee and surrounding Madison and Hamilton counties.

The pipeline will extend for approximately 40 miles in Suwannee County and approximately 500 landowners will be affected by this project. About 100 landowners in Hamilton County will be affected by this project as well.

“The routing is very much not set,” Grover said.

According to Grover, the current proposed route could change, but it will stay within the 600 feet corridor. Grover said the pipeline will run along existing rights-of-way for about 80 percent of the route. When construction begins, the pipeline’s projection path will be narrowed down to a 50 feet corridor.

Really? In Lowndes County, Georgia, at least, “run along” means side-by-side but not on the same easement, so many landowners get a second pipeline gash through their property if we let this happen. And why did Sabal Trail file with FERC all those detailed alternative maps including one for a “Hildreth Compressor Station, Suwannee County, Florida”?


Hildreth Compressor Station, Suwannee County, Florida, in Alternatives, by Sabal Trail Transmission,
for FERC Docket No. PF14-1-000, 15 November 2013, converted by SpectraBusters
SABAL TRAIL PROJECT, DRAFT RESOURCE REPORT 10, Alternatives, FERC Docket No. PF14-1-000, Initial Pre-Filing Draft, November 2013

-jsq

Georgia pipeline safety record worse than in Florida

Should we add to Georgia’s string of serious pipeline accidents (worse than Florida’s) by letting a pipeline company with fines for corrosion and leaks from PHMSA and a record fine for PCB spills from EPA gash an even bigger pipeline through our farms and past our towns, churches, and schools?

The data on Florida pipeline accidents in Ichetucknee Alliance’s position paper against the pipeline (the position that got Spectra’s Andrea Grover to say the “preferred” route had moved and “currently” there was no threat to the Ichetucknee River or Columbia County, Florida); that pipeline accident data came from Pipeline Safety Tracker, which finds an even worse pipeline safety record for Georgia: 89 incidents, 7 fatalities, 36 injuries, and $56.3 million in property damage.

Among those Georgia incidents was one near Albany, Georgia, 29 May 2004, caused by “Environmental Cracking Related” which caused $209,447 in property damage. That could be a concern about a proposed pipeline put in by a company whose employees told federal inspectors it never conducted key test for corrosion.

Even worse was this one, Continue reading Georgia pipeline safety record worse than in Florida

Move pipeline to unpopulated electric corridor –Gertrude C. Dickinson

Why should a pipeline company from Texas get to gouge a 100 foot path through a flood plain despite local restrictions and make enough noise to threaten a local resident in Sumter County, Florida? A very thorough comment on Sabal Trail’s PF14-1 by Gertrude C. Dickinson raises these questions.

Deed restrictions with flood plain restrictions According to deed restrictions on her lot, which is uphill from the proposed pipeline route. Downhill is hardly less in the flood plain of Florida’s Withlacoochee River in Sumter County.

No permanent structures of fill material of any sort shall be placed within the delineated flood plain areas.

We’ve heard from Ms. Dickinson before, in her letter to SpectraBusters, Half Moon Wildlife Management Area and Sabal Trails and in a story by mynews123.com, Florida opposition to Spectra pipeline. Here’s her comment sent 12 October 2013 and stamped received 21 October 2013 by FERC:

Letter (1 of 2) Docket #PF 14-1
Sabal Transmission

Gertrude C. Dickinson
7963 CR247
(Rutland Ranch DeveIopment- Deed Restricted)
(Rutland, Florida 33538)
Post Office Mailing Address:
Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Attn: Secretary Sarah McKinley
888 First Street N.E
Washington, DC 20426
RE: Pre-filing Docket- Sabal Transmission II PF14—1

Half Moon Wildlife Management Area Continue reading Move pipeline to unpopulated electric corridor –Gertrude C. Dickinson