Letter to ED of Energy and Office Transformation
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FRRACS wrote to Ms. Lavinson, ED of the new Office of Energy Transformation, to protest Mr. Beaton’s position on the OET advisory board. You can read our letter below.
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Environmental Assessment for Atlantic Bridge Released
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FERC released the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Atlantic Bridge today. Unfortunately, an EA doesn't hold much weight; it only skims the surface. Upon review of the EA, FERC could decide to issue a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which could delay Spectra's plans up to 6 months.
The comment period for the EA is open for 30 days.
Read MoreSpectra's Pipeline Explodes in PA
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On Friday, April 29, a natural gas pipeline exploded in Salem Township, PA. The Texas Eastern pipeline is overseen by Spectra. One individual was injured and his home was destroyed. Nearby areas had to be evacuated, as well.
Read MoreRally results in meeting with the Mayor
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We must urge the Mayor to deny any deal with Spectra, before his decision is due next Wednesday. So please continue to call the Mayor and town councilors. Write them too.
PHONE - 781-340-5012
EMAIL - RHedlund@weymouth.ma.us
We are simply not "out of time"
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A Weymouth News article released today says that Mayor Hedlund is torn about making a decision about Spectra's deal because we are "out of time." We are most certainly not out of time. Spectra is concerned about our opposition and wants the town to sign the deal before the Environmental Assessment comes out.
Read MoreMayor Hedlund Considering Spectra's $47 Million Offer
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A day after our press conference, Mayor Hedlund announced that Spectra Energy has offered the town $47 million if the town ends their opposition to the compressor. Mayor Hedlund said that he is considering taking the deal.
Please call the Mayor and tell him not to accept any deal from Spectra: 781-335-2000
Read MorePress Event: FRRACS Stands Up to Spectra
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Today, members of FRRACS held a press conference at the site of the proposed compressor station in regards to the ongoing battle against Spectra Energy. Upon learning that Spectra had offered money to the Town of Weymouth in return for getting the town to end their strong opposition to the compressor, FRRACS met with the Mayor to determine if this was true; he confirmed that this interaction did occur.
We were joined today by Claire Miller from Toxics Action Center, Emily Kirkland from 350 Mass, and an activist from the Sandisfield against Kinder Morgan.
We are asking now folks to contact the Mayor's office and the town council to urge them not to accept any deal from Spectra. No amount of money would be worth our health, our environment, our safety, or our economic well-being.
Please call the Mayor now and tell him not to support any deal: 781-335-2000
Alice, FRRACS lead, speaking about Spectra's deal
The press statement given by Alice is available below:
Boston Globe: Weymouth turns up heat against gas compressor station
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From The Boston Globe:
The town of Weymouth is getting louder in its opposition to Spectra Energy’s proposal to build a natural gas compressor station by the Fore River Bridge – with town councilors now joining the mayor, their state legislator, and local residents who’ve crowded meetings and rallied weekly at the foot of the bridge.
Dozens of residents raised objections to the plan in late March at a four-hour hearing in the town before the state Department of Environmental Protection. And more than 60 opponents crowded an April 6 hearing of the Weymouth Conservation Commission, which will decide whether the project meets local and state wetlands requirements. The panel continued the hearing until May 25 to get more information from Spectra about the project’s impact on wetlands and wildlife.
Read MoreReminder - ConCom Meeting Tomorrow
/As a reminder, the Weymouth Conservation Commission will be meeting tomorrow, April 6, to discuss the application of Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC for a Notice of Intent to construct a natural gas compressor station as part of the Atlantic Bridge Project. We encourage folks to attend this hearing and to share their comments with the Commission.
The public hearing will be held at the Weymouth High School, 1 Wildcat Way, South Weymouth, in the Mary Jo Livingstone Humanities Center (maroon building) at 6pm.
Join the facebook event for more updates!
The Notice of Intent has been filed under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL chapter 131, section 40) and the Weymouth Wetlands Protection Ordinance (Weymouth Code of Ordinances, section 7-301). The proposed project is located on Bridge Street on the parcel shown as Assessor’s Map 6, Block 63, Lot 1. The subject land is located within Designated Port Area and portions of the work are located within Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage, Riverfront Area, and Buffer Zone to Coastal Bank and Coastal Beach.
The compressor station will be the only item on the meeting agenda and there will be ample time for questions and discussion, but please note that the public hearing will be limited to discussion of issues relevant to the state Wetlands Protection Act and the Weymouth Wetlands Protection Ordinance. Thank you.
Town Website Information: http://www.weymouth.ma.us/conservation-commission/news/public-hearing-april-6th-algonquin-gas-notice-of-intent-for-natural-gas
Reminder – Important Meeting March 28
/Don’t forget tomorrow is the meeting with the MassDEP regarding Spectra’s permit application. Details below:
We ask you to attend a special public meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
WHEN: MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016 beginning at 5:30 PM
WHERE: THE ABIGAIL ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
89 MIDDLE STREET, WEYMOUTH
WHAT: This is a public meeting to help the DEP determine whether or not to grant permits to Spectra Energy Texas to build the compressor station in a designated port.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND: DEP Chapter 91 regulations state that in order for a facility to be sited in a designated port, it must be water dependent. This compressor station is NOT water dependent. Additionally, due to the toxic nature of this facility, it will be dumping Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) into the water and air in the Fore River Basin.
HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD! TELL THE MassDEP TO DENY SPECTRA’S PERMIT !
Alert: Important Meeting March 28
/ACTION ALERT-
We ask you to attend a special public meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
WHEN: MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016 beginning at 5:30 PM
WHERE: THE ABIGAIL ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
89 MIDDLE STREET, WEYMOUTH
WHAT: This is a public meeting to help the DEP determine whether or not to grant permits to Spectra Energy Texas to build the compressor station in a designated port.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND: DEP Chapter 91 regulations state that in order for a facility to be sited in a designated port, it must be water dependent. This compressor station is NOT water dependent. Additionally, due to the toxic nature of this facility, it will be dumping Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) into the water and air in the Fore River Basin.
HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD! TELL THE MassDEP TO DENY SPECTRA’S PERMIT !
For More Information and to keep updated, check back here on our website.
“Like” us on Facebook here.
Email us at: nocompressor@gmail.com
ALERT—ALERT—ALERT—ALERT
The Patriot Ledger Changes their Tune
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The Patriot Ledger, 3/13/16
Last August The Patriot Ledger released a pro-compressor station editorial and faced immediate backlash from the community. We're happy to see that they may be shifting from their original stance.
Important Meeting March 9 - SPECTRA CANCELED
/UPDATE - SPECTRA HAS CANCELED THEIR APPEARANCE AT THE MARCH 9 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING, but they may be there in April. We will keep you updated!
CANCELED - Spectra will be before the Weymouth Conservation Commission on March 9th at 7:00PM in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall. Please plan to attend this important meeting, if you can. We need to deny Spectra our public lands.
A legal notice should be appearing in the paper and the agenda will be out a few days prior.
After thoughtfully and meticulously reading through just one of Spectra's 300-page documents, Councilor Rebecca Haugh came across this striking statement that pertains to the proposed compressor station:
"The Weymouth Compressor Station is also considered to be a high consequence area."
As Councilor Haugh said, "If it is a high consequence area, then why is it being considered and why are there no regulations or laws to protect humans? There are more regulations protecting birds, turtles and bats than human beings with these projects."
Join us on Wednesday, March 9 at the Town Hall in Weymouth (75 Middle Street) to defend our public lands from Spectra.
Action: Protest Gov. Baker's Pipeline TAX
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pipeline tax hearing 2
Attend the crucial hearing on this issue on Thursday, February 25 at 1:30PM. More details here.
Eversource and National Grid have petitioned Gov. Baker's DPU to institute a Pipeline TAX (you heard right, a tax) to be figured into the rate structure of EVERY electric bill for the residents of Massachusetts. This TAX is to pay for the as yet unbuilt and unnecessary pipelines and compressors of Kinder Morgan and Spectra. This is unprecedented for a rate increase to be established prior to a build-out.
The people of the Commonwealth will pay for the infrastructure of PRIVATE corporations, own none of the infrastructure for which they have paid, and have NO guarantee of lower prices in the future or even of receiving any of the gas coming through the pipelines. The MAJORITY of this gas, whether Spectra or Kinder Morgan, is headed for Canada to be off-shored on the world market.
On February 8, 2016, the DOE signed off on the permits to export this gas to Non-FTA (Free Trade Association) countries. The permits to export to FTA countries was given last May.
There will be an important hearing on this issue on Thursday, February 25 at 1:30PM - meet outside of South Station. More details here.
Tell the DPU and Gov. Baker: No Taxation Without Representation! Gov. Baker is supporting this TAX.
Former Spectra Employees Speak Out!
/From FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas): BREAKING.
A top safety inspector and an electrical inspector who worked for Spectra Energy on the "AIM" pipeline project have come forward to FANG with damning information about the company. The information that the whistleblowers have shared is alarming.
Spectra Energy pressured inspectors to hide information from safety reports and circumvent rules while rushing to complete the "AIM" project at all costs. Workers suffered heat exhaustion and were pushed to work 70-80 hours a week while attempts to raise concerns were met with immediate retaliation. As one of the whistleblowers put it "We were told to shut the f*** up or quit".
A top safety inspector who oversaw construction at compressor stations told us that the situation is so toxic that if the company doesn't change their workplace culture, that the safety mishaps and continuous violations could lead to a catastrophic pipeline explosion.
Then be sure to check out Steve 's breaking article detailing the whistleblower's story that's posted on RI Future.
There are too many details to share in this email. But one important thing to know is that Spectra Energy is afraid of FANG. Our whistleblowers report that Spectra management frequently took time to strategize ways to stop FANG. Spectra then hired extra security to prevent protests, trained new employees about the history of FANG and lied to employees about potential FANG tactics.
All of this means that this weekend's mobilization in Burrillville is that much more important.
Join us on December 4-5th as we take action alongside the residents of Burrillville at the site of one of Spectra Energy's fracked-gas compressor stations that is currently under construction as part of the "AIM" Project.
FANG has been resisting Spectra's "AIM" project tirelessly for the past two years. But now it's time to #StopSpectra once and for all.