This went out yesterday to WWALS members.

TELL GOVERNOR DEAL THAT THE SABAL TRAIL GAS PIPELINE THREATENS PRIVATE PROPERTY, CLEAN WATER, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Please take immediate action, today, to tell Governor Nathan Deal’s office that you oppose the siting of Spectra Energy’s Sabal Trail “natural” gas pipeline through the Withlacoochee River watershed. Call 404-656-1776 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and tell the staffer that answers, “I am opposed to routing the Sabal Trail pipeline through the Withlacoochee River watershed; I urge Governor Deal to do everything in his power to stop this project”.

Also please sign this petition to Gov. Deal to Please Ban The Sabal Trail Fracked Gas Pipeline.

Join the hundreds of citizens in the Chattahoochee, Flint, Withlacoochee, and Suwannee River regions who have told state and federal officials of their opposition to this pipeline. Spectra Energy of Houston, Texas, has no customers for the Sabal Trail pipeline in Georgia. The pipeline promoters say that it is to fuel power plants in Florida, a state that has enormous solar power potential, but very little solar development. Strong evidence suggests that the gas will be exported to benefit investors, which have included FL Gov. Rick Scott.

Join the hundreds of citizens in Lowndes, Brooks, Colquitt, Mitchell, Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Webster, and Stewart Counties whose neighborhoods, hunting lands, ranches and farms are threatened by eminent domain, taking land for a purported “public purpose”, from a “public” that will receive no service from it.

Join the Lowndes, Brooks, and Colquitt County Commissions and the Valdosta and Moultrie City Councils (plus Dougherty and Terrell Counties and the city of Albany, and Hamilton County, Florida) who have made clear their opposition to siting the pipeline in their communities.

Join Congressman Sanford Bishop, and Representatives Dexter Sharper, Winfred Dukes, and Darrel Ealum in their strong opposition to this project. You can also contact these folks to thank them, and also urge other local elected officials to add their voices, using the online resource located here. You can find your GA state representative here, and your senator here, or use the handy table here. Urge them to make their position known to Governor Deal.

Governor Deal recently orchestrated the denial of the use of eminent domain to a gasoline and oil pipeline in east and coastal Georgia. While the governing laws are not the same for natural gas, the Deal administration can have tremendous influence on the federal process, and the Deal administration is responsible for air, water, and road crossing permits, having total control over those processes. Your message to the Governor can and will make a difference.

This pipeline threatens private property, the clean air and noise levels in key neighborhoods, and our swamps, creeks, and rivers. Siting this pipeline in the limestone karst environment of Southwest Georgia is also highly risky, due to the instability of the soils and substrate, sinkholes, and shifting becoming more and more common over the last several decades.

Please urge Governor Deal to act now. Do it today, and no later than the 7th of August.

That same day in Florida, Friday August 7th, WWALS will be filing a petition with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to deny Sabal Trail a permit for use of the sovereign waters of Florida, especially against boring under the Suwannee River. If you want to help with that, please contact us.

See also Gov. Scott’s pipeline investment gets a boost from Florida environmental regulators, by Dan Christensen, FloridaBulldog.org, today.

And come paddle past the proposed pipeline site, Saturday, August 15th, from the Alapaha Rise down the Suwannee River to the Withlacoochee Confluence.

Thank you, for the Withlacoochee, Alapaha, and Upper Suwannee,

-jsq
John S. Quarterman
President
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.
a WATERKEEPER® Affiliate
a Georgia Water Coalition member
a Florida Springs Council member
229-242-0102
wwalswatershed@gmail.com
www.wwals.net
PO Box 88, Hahira, GA 31632

Become a member of WWALS to conserve our watersheds!

WWALS Watershed Coalition advocates for conservation and stewardship of the  Withlacoochee,  Willacoochee,  Alapaha,  Little, and Upper Suwannee River watersheds in south Georgia and north Florida through awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.

-jsq

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

Short Link: