On October 25, 2023, the first part of our Ch. 91 Waterways License appeal hearing with Mass DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and Enbridge took place. You can watch a recording of the hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxpIqkHvqCw

During the September 26, 2023, segment of “Ask the Governor” on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, Governor Healey was asked why the state is still supporting the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, despite the state’s climate plan to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. In response she said, “No new fossil fuel power plants. No new fossil fuel transmission lines, ok? We don’t want any of those pipelines.” (Boston Public Radio, beginning at 02:41:45). We applaud this response and will hold the Governor accountable to her commitment of no new fossil fuels.

Enbridge, the company responsible for the Weymouth compressor station, recently released notice of an “Open Season” for a new expansion project called “Project Maple”. Open season refers to time in which companies can bid on the gas from a proposed project. Open season for this project ends in November. It’s unclear when exactly the public will receive more information about the potential buyers of the gas. You can access the Open Season document here.

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Extinction Rebellion Boston (XR) organized a special standout to celebrate their months of action. The following statement from FRRACS member, Alice Arena, was read in front of the State House.

Our member, Margaret Bellafiore, an artist, Weymouth resident, and activist, returned to the compressor station site with another installment of her “Black Widow” performance. This performance is part of a nine year protest performance where children are put at risk from the carcinogenic Enbridge compressor station.

The Public Involvement Program meeting held on Monday June 12, 2023, on the Clean Harbors fire was recorded and available for you to watch. Your comments can be sent to the Licensed Site Professional (LSP) Tom Nunno by the deadline of July 2, 2023. Send to: Thomas.Nunno@tetratech.com

This meeting covered Enbridge's plan to control erosion on the eastern side of the property and, possibly, do some cleaning up on the beach. The report is over 800 pages long, but you can read it here.

Andrea Honoré, a FRRACS member and Weymouth resident, led the #SitWithAndrea sit-in during Governor Baker’s tenure. She spent her lunchbreak in his waiting room for months on end, with the hope of getting the change to speak with him about the compressor station. Years later, she sat down with Inside Climate News to reflect on her sit-in.

On Thursday, February 16, 2023, a chemical fire occurred the Clean Harbors hazardous waste storage facility in Braintree, burning seventy-five 55-gallon barrels of hazardous waste. This event featured a panel discussion with Elizabeth Maglio, Braintree Town Councilor and Alice Arena, President, Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station, on the aftermath of this fire and the impact it has had on the community.

You can watch a recording of the panel discussion here.

Our appeal in the D.C. Court of Appeals happened today. You can listen to the oral arguments here (there is no video recording): https://www.youtube.com/live/ez0mf02uJlI?feature=share. We are Case#: 22-1146 Fore River Residents Against the Comp.Station v. FERC.

On March 1, 2023, we delivered a letter to Governor Maura Healey on the last stop of our Toxic Tour. We shared with her our concerns and demands related to the compressor station.

As you know from our Friday email and our press release, there was a fire at the Clean Harbors Toxic Waste facility in East Braintree beginning around 10:30 on Thursday night (February 16, 2023). More information has become available as to the nature of the chemicals that were burned and the level of hazard at the time of the fire and going forward.

Fire at Clean Harbors hazardous waste disposal site released unknown chemicals into the air 

Town officials left many residents uninformed, dismissed air quality concerns, and illustrated need for comprehensive emergency evacuation planning

At approximately 11 PM, Channel 7 news reported that 3 tractor trailers at the Clean Harbors hazardous waste disposal site were on fire. One of which was “burnt to essentially a shell”. It is not known at this time what chemicals were in the trailers. And therefore, it is not known what toxins the community has been exposed to. You can see a video of the tractor trailers here.

A student from Weymouth High School is doing research on the compressor station for their AP Research class. They are conducting an anonymous health assessment survey for Weymouth residents. If you live in Weymouth and would like to fill out the survey, you can do so at this link.

Event description: “Across our country and our world, communities of color are impacted first and worst by pollution and climate-driven disasters, and among the strongest advocates for change. Learn how your faith community can stand with them. Join a panel of leaders on the front lines of environmental justice featuring Dr. Robert Bullard, Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Rev. Dr. Deborah Conrad, and Rev. Betsy Sowers (Moderator). Recording available here.

We had a great time today at the open house event for Boston Public Library’s Leventhal Map Center environmental justice exhibit, More or Less in Common. Thanks to all you joined us! And to the Leventhal Center for hosting our group. We had a chance to talk with guests and tour the exhibit together. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the exhibit, we recommend visiting! It is open through the end of the year. You can also view a virtual exhibit here.

This alert was provided by the Town of Braintree: “The Town of Braintree has received notification from Enbridge that Algonquin will be operating the emergency generator to meet routine readiness testing and standard maintenance requirements on September 19th and will be conducting planned maintenance at the Weymouth Compressor Station from September 20th through September 30th, 2022. For the duration of the activities associated with this work, there may be intermittent off-site sound impacts.”

We decided to visit Commissioner Suuberg in Boston at the DEP offices after he released his disappointing decision of the Ch. 91 Waterways License appeal. The Commissioner wouldn’t speak to us, but a stand-in did... You can view the interview here.

Yesterday afternoon, DEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg released his non-decision on the Ch. 91 Waterways remand recommendation of Adjudicator Jane Rothchild. You might recall from a prior mailing that Ms. Rothchild finally gave us a thoughtful and positive decision on this permit matter. Leave it to the Commissioner to mess that up!