A fuel pipeline across the Satilla River is a danger to our county.
Imagine a broken pipe spilling fuel into the Satilla for just one day.
Kinder Morgan’s proposed pipeline would transport 167,000 barrels per
day of refined petroleum products to Jacksonville, Fla. It will likely
cross the Satilla about a mile downstream of Burnt Fort.
The river is tidal there.
Any spill will quickly head both directions, spreading fuel into swamps
and marshes, killing fish and trees, and reach the beaches of
Cumberland and Jekyll.
Mr. John Quarterman, President
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.
3338 Country Club Road #L336
Valdosta, GA 31605
Dear Mr. Quarterman;
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority works diligently
with our existing companies and prospective companies looking to
relocate to Valdosta, Georgia. There are several components that are
part of this process and one of those is quality of life.
Communities that have a wide variety of activities,
arts and entertainment and
outdoor recreation do better in the selection process as opposed to
those that are limited.
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority understands that Continue reading →
SECTION II
Thus, we are in opposition to the construction of the
proposed pipeline in Dougherty County and request that FERC give
serious consideration and analysis to alternative routes (1) that
avoid unstable geologic areas such as karst and sink-hole prone
areas, (2) that minimize impacts to drinking water and agricultural
water supplies, (3) that minimize impacts to wildlife habitat,
forest, wetlands, streams and rivers and (4) that do not compromise
socio-economic and cultural issues.
WWALS Ambassador Dave Hetzel explains the
Alapaha River Water Trail: recreation through fishing, swimming, boating,
conservation, and economic benefits through heads on beds, restaurant
customers, gas, and outfitters. Continue reading →
Due to fine work by WWALS members Chris and Deanna Mericle in Hamilton
County, Florida,
Sabal Trail proposes to move its fracked methane
pipeline off of the Withlacoochee River in Florida, and invites the public
to an Open House in Jasper, FL Tuesday October 21st about that and
other matters. We can ask them to move it off the Withlacoochee River
in Georgia, too. And it’s still possible to file ecomments with FERC,
and to contact your local, state, and national elected and appointed officials.
Land use planning can make even a $60 billion market cap company
think again about a mine in our sensitive karst limestone aquifer.
details here.
Greenlaw pictures
here. -jsq
Statewide organization recognizes WWALS Watershed Coalition,
plus local direct and indirect economic benefits
of an Alapaha Water Trail,
wrote the reporter who called me yesterday about the
WWALS PR. -jsq
The Willacoochee, Withlacoochee, Alapaha, and Little River Systems
Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) received
a $500 Alapaha Water Trail Grant
from the
Georgia River Network. John Quarterman,
president of WWALS, said that making a water trail on the Alapaha
River involves mapping out the river and putting out guide posts.
The maps will show where boat ramps are along the river.
This grant goes beyond maps and guide posts; it signifies that a
statewide organization recognizes South Georgia rivers.
The Ichetucknee Alliance (http:// ichetucknee alliance.org)
opposes placement of any new natural gas pipelines under, over or through
the 5.5-mile long Ichetucknee River, including the area of
Ichetucknee Springs State Park, the area of Columbia County that is
included in the historic riverbed (the Ichetucknee Trace), and any
part of the Ichetucknee Springshed.
The Alliance opposes any new pipelines in these areas for the
following reasons.
The river and springs, including Ichetucknee Springs State Park, are Continue reading →
Water issues strongly affect economic development, so I talked about
the new WWALS Watershed Coalition at the
16 April 2013 Board Meeting
of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority.
The VDT declined to speak, so I did.
After apologizing for no okra today,
I commended the Authority for talking about the missing agenda items
and for mentioning due diligence and flood control.
WWALS board meetings are every second Wednesday of the month,
usually at the IHOP in Adel because it’s centrally located.
WWALS is communicating with Valdosta and
various organizations about
flooding and other watershed-wide issues, which in my opinion
have to do with things like too much clearcutting without
consideration for where the water goes, too much development
without consideration for what the impervious surface would do,
(to my surprise, the Executive Director and several board
members nodded along with that)
so it was good to hear them mention flood containment.
Arsenic, Outings, and Flooding: WWALS Watershed Coalition
Regular Meeting, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA),
Norman Bennett, Tom Call, Roy Copeland, Chairman, Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett,
Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director, J. Stephen Gupton, Attorney, Tom Davis, CPA, Allan Ricketts, Project Manager,S. Meghan Duke, Public Relations & Marketing Manager, Lu Williams, Operations Manager,
Video by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 16 April 2013.
A fuel pipeline across the Satilla River is a danger to our county. Imagine a broken pipe spilling fuel into the Satilla for just one day.
