Surprise, surprise, surprise! Recently appointed FERC Commissioner, Rob Powelson, has spent a fair amount of his time meeting with industry people. Journalist Itai Vardi provides detail on his findings in his new piece, FERC Commissioner Rob Powelson Spent Much of His First Months in Office Meeting With the Fossil Fuel Industry. You can read the full article here.
Read MoreOn Monday, February 13, the Boston Globe published an editorial about pipelines and LNG imports titled, "Our Russian ‘pipeline,’ and its ugly toll".
The article is long and filled with too much misinformation for us to list. So, we have a big favor to ask--can you take a moment to write a letter to the Globe? The editorial is available here (if you can't access it, please let us know). For rules on how to write a letter to the editor at the Globe, click here.
Read More
Comments to CZM are needed! Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is reviewing Spectra's project (though this review has been on hold for more than a year) and recently asked Spectra/Enbridge to answer questions about the Atlantic Bridge project. CZM is accepting comments on Enbridge's answers. The deadline for public comments is Friday, February 23. Comments need to be sent in the mail. Click here to access Enbridge's responses
Read MoreBelow is FERC's field inspection report which provides an update on Enbridge's projects. This review was done by Tetra Tech on October 23, 2017. You can access the full report here.
You can now watch the full BU conference on Natural Gas Infrastructure and Public Health. Visit the BU website here to access the videos.This conference brought together public health officials and community members to discuss the health impacts of natural gas infrastructure.
Read MoreSince Judge Casper in Federal Court sided with Spectra/Enbridge and against the Town/Weymouth Conservation Commission for denying the wetlands permit, Spectra/Enbridge has now filed a motion with MASSDEP to remove all stays. We wanted to inform you that the local intervenor group is opposing their motion to remove the stay and have asked the Presiding Officer (Jane Rothchild) to continue the stay.
The Intervenors to Protect the Environment sent a motion today to the Office of Appeals and Dispute Resolution at MassDEP. We want the stay to continue and Spectra/Enbridge does not. You can read the intervenors motion here. We will keep you updated on this matter.
Many thanks to Margaret B. and others for their effort on this!
After the cold snap we experienced last week, you may be hearing the argument that this is why we need more fracked gas and pipelines. This argument is not at all true. There is absolutely no need to build new fossil fuel infrastructure for a peak in energy use a few days a year. The Conservation Law Foundation explains it well in their piece, Cold Snap Shows We Still Don’t Need New Gas Pipelines.
Read MoreSimple put, fossil fuel extraction is pushing the world to the brink of total extinction for the sake of money. A recent NASA study found that "the recent jump in methane emissions from oil and gas production appears to be a whole lot bigger than we previously thought."
Click here to read the full piece from Think Progress.
Read MoreMayor Hedlund's comments to Kelley Race of TRC Environmental are available below. His comments relate to the Public Involvement Plan (PIP) in response to oil contamination at the proposed site.
We appreciate the Mayor and many others who submitted comments to Ms. Race.
Read MoreSpectra/Enbridge filed a lawsuit against the Town of Weymouth after the Conservation Commission denied the wetlands permit in May of 2016. The Judge recently found for Enbridge, but the Town can appeal. We are hoping that the Town will move forward with an appeal. More info to come.
Read MoreVery short notice, but we're hoping folks can quickly submit comments regarding the Public Involvement Plan (PIP) for the oil contamination at the proposed compressor site.
You can use this form (PDF; Word doc) of sample questions to submit to Kelley Race.
More info about the PIP is available here on our site.
Read MoreLast month an unannounced pipeline blowdown rocked the town of Richmond, MA. The Berkshire Eagle reported that residents heard a noise that "sounded like a thousand jets flying overhead". The smell of gas permeated throughout the area and was described as "overwhelming." Residents were terrified and had no idea what was going on. Many called the police and the company that runs the Kinder Morgan pipeline. After 40 minutes, the blowdown ended. No one was injuried, but many were left feeling scared. You can read the full story here.
Read MoreUnfortunately, in the land of FERC, there is no break for the holidays. FERC issued it's denial of our request for a hearing regarding the Certificate of Conditional Approval. You can read the 71-page document here. In January of this year, FERC granted Spectra/Enbridge "Conditional Approval" to begin construction of Atlantic Bridge, despite lacking a handful of permits. We hired an attorney, Carolyn Elefant, in January, and filed an appeal with a host of other groups and towns. We are consulting Carolyn today and how to proceed. We will keep you updated.
Read MoreIn Friday's letter from Secretary Beaton, he stated the state's Health Impact Assessment could take 10-12 months to complete. This is good news, though it's not certain that it would delay Enbridge's timeline. You can read the more about it in today's Patriot Ledger article.
Read MoreAs a follow-up to Dr. Nordgaard's letter to MassDEP (read more about that here), we are asking folks to send an email to MassDEP staff. Phone calls are great, but we haven't had much success getting in contact with staff via phone. But don't let that stop you from making a phone call if that is your preference.
You are welcome to use the sample letter below, or you can write your own. Letters can be emailed to: Millie.Garcia-Serrano@state.ma.us, Gary.Moran@state.ma.us, thomas.cushing@state.ma.us, christine.kirby@state.ma.us
Read MoreAfter months of contacting officials at MassDEP, we continue to feel frustrated by their radio silence. Data collected in the Fore River Basin show alarming levels of pollutants, but these levels don't seem to alarm the agency tasked with "protect[ing] and enhanc[ing] the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water, land – and to provide for the health, safety, welfare and enjoyment of the people."
Their silence is not acceptable. As an agency who sees it as their mission to provide for the health of safety of people, they seem to have lost their direction. In an attempt to get them to listen, and act, Dr. Nordgaard sent a letter outlining the many concerns that we have as a community. His letter included the following attachments, which are all available below: 2017 Fore River VOC Results, Fore River Energy Center Non-Comprehensive Plan Approval Application Report, Massachusetts 2016 Air Quality Report, and a Flammable Risk Analysis.
Read MoreOur friends at Film Our Way Films graciously volunteered to film the entire Q&A portion of the PIP meeting at the middle school last week, and we're so glad that they did!
The meeting is split into three videos, all of which you can watch online here. The first of the three videos is available for viewing below.
Read MoreMany thanks to Congressman Lynch for introducing H.R. 4381, the Natural Gas Pipeline Public Health Protection Act of 2017, which would suspend construction and expansion of natural gas facilities in communities with unsafe air pollutant levels. This certainly can't hurt our cause here in the Basin.
Read MoreLocal opposition to the proposed Natural Gas Compressor Station abutting a dense residential community
Every contribution helps us bring attention to this dangerous Compressor Station.
www.NoCompressor.com is maintained by Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station.
Email: nocompressor@gmail.com
