The main point:
“I’ve got an independent route: let’s cancel this pipeline, and the Sunshine State should go directly to solar power.”
Here’s the video: Continue reading
Tag Archives: Aquifer
Sabal Trail in most vulnerable area of the Floridan Aquifer –Orlando Sentinel
Orlando is just as affected as the Suwannee River by risks of the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline proposed by Spectra Energy of Houston, Texas. You can protest to FL-DEP, FERC, and your local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials, and to the news media.
Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel, 9 September 2015, Natural-gas pipeline to Florida draws environmental concerns,
The Sabal Trail Pipeline has drawn opposition from a Florida group affiliated with WWALS Watershed Coalition Inc., which is based in Georgia. A chief concern is that the pipeline could impact Florida waterways and the drinking-water supply, said John S. Quarterman, director of the Florida and Georgia WWALS groups.
This is according to evidence FL-DEP itself sent to FERC in March 2014, showing the proposed pipeline path going through the most vulnerable area of the Floridan Aquifer, which as you can see on the map they included continues down to Orlando. Continue reading
WWALS cites dangers to environment and conflict of interest against Sabal Trail –Miami Herald via Florida Bulldog
A major Miami newspaper picked up a Florida Bulldog story after a week. Meanwhile, CBS Miami covered FL-DEP asking for an administrative law judge. And see previous post for what’s safer than any pipeline: solar power, ready now for the Sunshine State.
Dan Christensen, Miami Herald, 6 September 2015, Pipeline foes ask DEP to deny key permit, cite ‘conflict of interest’ by Gov. Rick Scott,
Opponents of a proposed natural gas pipeline in North Florida are asking Florida regulators to reject the project, citing both dangers to the environment and a “conflict of interest” by the regulators’ boss, Gov. Rick Scott.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced in July its intention to award a crucial environmental permit and rights to drill beneath riverbeds that would allow Houston-based Spectra Energy to construct the controversial, $3 billion Sabal Trail Transmission.
State records show Spectra Energy’s investors have included Scott.
Continue reading
Pipeline dispute to judge for WWALS v Sabal Trail –CBS Miami
New news venues are covering WWALS v. Sabal Trail.
CBS Miami, 4 September 2015, Judge To Consider Florida Pipeline Permit Dispute,
A judge is set to consider an environmental group’s efforts to block construction of a pipeline mean to transport gas into Florida from Alabama.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protectionin July gave notice that it plans to issue a key permit for the Sabal Trail pipeline, which is planned, at least in part, to help deliver natural gas to power plants operated by Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy Florida.
A Georgia-based environmental group, WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., has fought the permit, pointing to potential impacts of the pipeline on North Florida waterways.
The group last month added an affiliated organization, WWALS Watershed Coalition Florida, Inc., to the case, though Continue reading
Florida state regulators grant hearing at unknown data for WWALS v. Sabal Trail –Palm Beach Post
You’ve mostly been hearing about WWALS v. Sabal Trail lately because
of all the
news coverage
related to the petition to FL-DEP, which is great.
But of course WWALS does a lot more than that
and WWALS has been around before anybody ever heard of Sabal Trail.
Susan Salisbury, Palm Beach Post, 4 September 2015, State regulators grant hearing to anti-pipeline group,
WWALS Watershed coalition and WWALS-Florida which advocate for conservation of Suwannee River and other rivers in south Georgia and North Florida believe the proposed pipeline is not in the public interest and could have severe adverse effects on fish, wildlife, public recreation and navigation.
The pipeline would also go through the fragile karst limestone containing Continue reading
WWALS to get hearing against Sabal Trail after all –Gainesville Sun
WWALS is about environmental issues such as
those FL-DEP said could proceed.
However, environmental issues extend far beyond
FL-DEP’s narrow view.
A pipeline sinkhole could affect springs
or wells miles away, and that could affect property values,
insurance rates, and of course eco-tourism.
Tourism brings in
$67 billion a year to Florida.
Why would any Florida state agency want to risk that for a pipeline when the Sunshine State can go straight to solar power?
Christopher Curry, Gainesville Sun, 4 September 2015, Part of Sabal Trail challenge will proceed, Continue reading
FL-DEP grants hearing to WWALS against Sabal Trail pipeline under Suwannee River
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FL-DEP grants hearing to WWALS against Sabal Trail pipeline under Suwannee River
September 4nd, 2015, Jasper, Florida —
Yesterday the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FL-DEP)
asked for an administrative law judge (ALJ)
“to conduct all necessary proceedings required by law and to submit a recommended order to the Department”.
FL-DEP apparently interprets its Order of the previous day as dismissing only
the petition of WWALS-FL, a Florida nonprofit corporation, and not that of
the parent corporation, WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS).
So it seems WWALS gets a hearing after all.
WWALS president John S. Quarterman remarked:
“Everyone told us we’d never get a hearing, so apparently we interpreted the previous day’s FL-DEP dismissal too broadly. But sometimes if you try, you succeed. And WWALS continues to try to stop the unnecessary, destructive, and hazardous Sabal Trail pipeline.”
And it seems FL-DEP is reading the news about this case, because Continue reading
WWALS petition against Sabal Trail dismissed by FL-DEP on technicality, not real issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WWALS petition against Sabal Trail dismissed by FL-DEP on technicality, not real issues
2015-09-04: New DEP message, new press release.
September 3rd, 2015, Jasper, Florida —
Despite the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FL-DEP)’s
Order of yesterday dismissing WWALS’ amended petition with prejudice on a technicality,
including an attempt to deny FL-DEP’s responsibilities to the citizens of Florida,
WWALS and WWALS-FL continue to point out the obvious:
Spectra Energy’s
proposed Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline is not in the public interest,
would interfere with property rights far beyond the crossing of the Suwannee River,
would not maintain natural conditions,
and could have severe adverse effects on fish, wildlife, public recreation, and navigation, especially if it blew up like a Spectra Energy pipeline
did in May under the Arkansas River.
Hamilton County, FL resident Deanna Mericle, who wrote much of the WWALS amended petition that was dismissed, responds,
“DEP is doing a disservice to the citizens of Hamilton and Suwannee Counties by not hearing the legitimate argument and hiding behind a questionable technicality. I am sorely disappointed but not surprised.”
Yesterday WWALS received Continue reading
The state has turned its back on our own ability to regulate this industries. –Carlos Guillermo Smith on WFTV 2015-09-01
An Orlando TV station investigates the pipeline pushers
and finds both them and Sabal Trail wanting,
digging up some new evidence of apparent back-room collusion.
Christopher Heath, WFTV, 1 September 2015, 9 Investigates new Florida natural gas pipeline,
A third natural gas pipeline is in the works for Florida. But, even as the power companies pushing the plan tout the need for increased natural gas in the state, questions are being raised about the company actually building the pipeline.
The web version goes into PHMSA fines and Continue reading
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., Petitioners, vs. SABAL TRAIL TRANSMISSION, LLC and STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, Respondents 2015-08-28
Filed 28 August 2015 (PDF). -jsq
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
|
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., Petitioners,
vs.
SABAL TRAIL TRANSMISSION, LLC and STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
Respondents. |
: : : : : : : : : : : |
OGC Case No.: 15-0468 |
Petition for Administrative Hearing:
Florida Department of
Environmental Protection’s intent to issue Environmental Resource Permit
|
Petitioner: |
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. P.O. Box 88 Hahira, GA 31632 wwalswatershed@gmail.com |
WWALS Watershed Coalition Florida Inc.
|
Permit applicant:
Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC.
400 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 300
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Department Permit file number: 0328333-001
Counties affected by the permitted activity: Hamilton, Suwannee, Gilchrist, Alachua, Levy, Citrus, Marion, Sumter, Lake, Polk, Orange, Osceola. Affected counties represented by WWALS: Hamilton, Suwannee, Madison.
Date Petitioner became aware Continue reading