Category Archives: Agriculture

Deny Sabal Trail, said U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, and FERC ignored him

Citing the GDOT denial of KMI’s Palmetto Pipeline and numerous specific hazards of Spectra Energy’s proposed Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline (sinkholes in karst limestone and a compressor station next to Albany’s water wells, all for no benefit to Georgia, by a company with a poor safety record), U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02) wrote to FERC (PDF):

I believe that FERC should deny STT’s application for a Certificate of Public Necessity.

And he told FERC to tell Sabal Trail to stop suing his constituents for eminent domain.

A year after Rep. Bishop listened in Albany for two hours to complaints about Sabal Trail, Dougherty County and Albany, Georgia filed followup letters to their resolutions against that pipeline. Neither FERC nor Sabal Trail answered them, so their Representative in the U.S. Congress forwarded their letters with that sharp cover letter. Three weeks later, FERC still hasn’t even filed his letter in their e-comment system, much less responded to it.

Just how lawless is FERC, anyway? Doesn’t a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations give them pause? Continue reading Deny Sabal Trail, said U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, and FERC ignored him

FERC still stonewalling Dougherty County Commission and landowners about Sabal Trail

It’s not a short list; basically nothing Dougherty County 300x391 20150406-5144-30464227-001, in FERC still stonewalling Dougherty County Commission and landowners about Sabal Trail, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 6 April 2015 previously asked has been answered by Sabal Trail or FERC:

They have not addressed the issues of (1) potential effects on geology and soil, (2) impacts on water resources and wetlands, (3) impacts on vegetation, forests, fisheries, wildlife and threatened species, (4) cumulative impacts, (5) public safety concerns, (6) purpose and need for the proposed pipeline, (7) alternatives to the preferred route, (8) air quality and noise and (9) socioeconomic factors – environmental justice.

Filed with FERC 6 April 2015 as Accession Number: 20150406-5144, “Comment of Dougherty County, Georgia under CP15-17.” Continue reading FERC still stonewalling Dougherty County Commission and landowners about Sabal Trail

Texas pipeline invasion of Georgia in Los Angeles Times

The people and state of Georgia can stop this Texas invader, and if that takes a California paper implying Texans are Yankees, so be it. As well as Kinder Morgan’s Palmetto petroleum products Pipeline, why not stop Spectra’s Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline? You can sign the petition Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

Jenny Jarvie, L.A. Times, 1 June 2015, Landowners form a pipeline rebellion in the Deep South,

“I’m trying to protect something that was passed on to me,” said Georgia resident Jimmy Helmly, who opposes the pipeline. “People from away from here, with no ties, just want to make a dollar. I understand. I believe in American capitalism. But why should I sacrifice so you can make billions?”

When the letter arrived from a Texas pipeline company Continue reading Texas pipeline invasion of Georgia in Los Angeles Times

Sabal Trail sues Georgia Centenial Family Farm @ Moultrie 2015-05-28

Update 2015-05-10: Added case number, judge’s address, and directions.

Sabal Trail has sued another dozen landowners, and one case comes to trial 9:30 AM May 28th 2015 at the Courthouse Annex in Moultrie, Georgia. They want to Continue reading Sabal Trail sues Georgia Centenial Family Farm @ Moultrie 2015-05-28

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

“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

Agriculture over pipeline: Terrell County resolution against Sabal Trail

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:

300x388 Resolution, in Agriculture over pipeline: Terrell County resolution against Sabal Trail, by John S. Quarterman, for SpectraBusters.org, 5 November 2014 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

Supervisors oppose any Spectra alignment through Rappahannock County , VA

One month before Spectra “suspended” its Pennsylvania to Carolina pipeline plans, a Virginia county passed a resolution saying it didn’t want it. Not just please don’t cross our river like Hamilton County, Florida. Don’t come through here at all, said Rappahannock County, Virginia.

Piedmont Environmental Council, Rappahannock County Passes Resolution Opposing Spectra Alignment

A resolution titled “Rappahannock County Opposition To The Construction of An Underground Natural Gas Transmission LIne within Its Jurisdiction,” was passed by the Rappahannock Board of Supervisors on July 7, 2014. The resolution urges Duke Energy to select another proposed corridor for its energy needs.

Here’s the resolution. Continue reading Supervisors oppose any Spectra alignment through Rappahannock County , VA

See the FERC rubberstamp machine in action

You’ve heard the song, now see the FERC rubberstamp machine in action in videos of Sabal Trail interrogated in Gilchrist County, Florida @ GCC 2014-02-20, of the Valdosta FERC Scoping Meeting @ FERC 2014-03-04, and of the Moultrie FERC Scoping Meeting @ FERC 2014-03-05. See FERC refuse to release a tax-paid RFP and tax-paid-staff-reviewed proposals for an environmental contractor, and then see that very same contractor admit that the Sabal Trail pipeline would take twice the acreage to produce as much power as solar PV, while FERC refuses to consider that the pipeline would be far more environmentally damaging, more expensive, and would take much longer.

Nevermind landowners get only a one-time payment from the pipeline company, not rent and FERC has no Continue reading See the FERC rubberstamp machine in action

EPA comments in Moultrie Observer

The Colquitt County newspaper noticed the EPA questions to FERC about the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline, and even got sort of a response out of Sabal Trail.

Alan Mauldin wrote for the Moultrie Observer 26 April 2014, EPA letter lists concerns with Sabal Trail,

One issue raised by EPA is whether laying a new, 36-inch pipeline in proximity to a 10-inch pipeline built in the 1950s would present a danger to the public.

The alternate route that would take the pipeline through the heart of Colquitt County would for some of its path run parallel to the old iron pipeline.

“Consequently, concerns exist with the safety of Continue reading EPA comments in Moultrie Observer

News about yesterday’s Sanford Bishop pipeline listening session in Albany, GA

Here are two news reports (oddly, WALB doesn’t seem to have filed one) on yesterday’s listening session with U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02). These are brief extracts; there’s more in each article.

Cody Long wrote for Fox 31 yesterday, Deadline nears to hear pipeline comments,

There were about 50 people who showed up to the Government Center in downtown Albany. Some voiced their concerns to commissioners and the congressman about the Sabal Trail Transmission Gas Pipeline Project.

The pipeline would run through 24 miles of Dougherty County and would be capable of transporting up to one billion cubic feet of natural gas each day.

However, it would run through portions of privately owned land which Continue reading News about yesterday’s Sanford Bishop pipeline listening session in Albany, GA