Tag Archives: PR

WWALS prepares to sue FERC for shirking LNG Export oversight

Update 2022-07-26: You can comment or intervene on the Rulemaking on small inland Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) facilities that WWALS and six co-signers got started with FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We don’t need more methane leaks and we don’t need highly compressed explosive LNG trucks rolling down I-75 and I-10 with no environmental oversight and no safety plans.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C., June 13, 2018 — WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) prepares to sue the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for shirking its legally-required oversight of inland liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals. “LNG trucks barrel down I-75 right by my old high school in Lowndes County, Georgia,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, after meeting with WWALS’ attorneys in Washington, D.C. “Those trucks from LNG terminals in Alabama and Georgia pass a technical college, a conference center, motels, homes, and businesses, going to I-10 for Jacksonville, Florida, where that LNG goes at least as far on ships as Puerto Rico.”

PDF flyer

Since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2015 abdicated its jurisdictional duties under the Natural Gas Act to regulate the siting, construction, operation and maintenance of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) small-scale inland export facilities, instead these facilities operate with basically no Federal oversight.

“I am greatly concerned that an LNG commercial project of this magnitude is not only planned, but that apparently has slipped through the cracks of local and federal regulators,” said WWALS member Harriet Heywood of Citrus County, Florida.

At the ends of the Sabal Trail pipeline chain in Florida, trucks go out from half a dozen LNG export operations authorized by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy (FE). If any of those trucks wrecks, federal standard everyone should be evacuated half a mile downwind, including high schools and hospitals. Very few local emergency responders know this and fewer have appropriate emergency plans.

 LNG Railcar Explosion, SE Cove Rd and SE Dixie Hwy, in Vulnerability of LNG by Rail, <br/>by Martin County Fire Rescue, December 15, 2015.” /></a><br />
LNG Railcar Explosion, SE Cove Rd and SE Dixie Hwy, in <a href=Vulnerability of LNG by Rail, by Martin County Fire Rescue, December 15, 2015.

“The unintended consequences of FERC’s abdication of Congressional jurisdictional authority are mind-boggling,” said WWALS member Cecile Scofield of Palm City, Martin County, Florida, “They include Continue reading

Video: Gretchen Quarterman on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-05-29

Coming up tomorrow, Thursday, May 31st: it’s the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta. WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman noted you can still buy tickets online or at the door.

Radio host Steve Nichols yesterday first wanted to know about the the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest at the Salty Snapper in Valdosta, GA, June 23, 2018.

They also talked about Continue reading

WWALS Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Steve Nichols drive-time radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-05-29

Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 29, 2018) morning at 8:30 AM WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman will be on the air with Steve Nichols talking about:

Banner, Gretchen, Stills

Plus WWALS advocacy, and upcoming paddle outings: Continue reading

Gretchen Quarterman on Scott James 92.1 FM radio 2018-04-1626

Yesterday WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman talked about

Education, Stills

Here’s the video: Continue reading

Video: Suwannee Riverkeeper on Steve Nichols Drive-time Radio 2018-04-24

This morning I was on The Morning Drive with Steve Nichols on 105.9 FM WVGA, Valdosta, Georgia, which Steve says reaches 100,000 people. We talked about all the things we said we would: Troupville cleanup, water trails, paddle race, film festival, songwriting contest, outings, and more.

Suwannee Riverkeeper banner, Interview

Here’s the video extracted from WVGA’s facebook live.

Suwannee Riverkeeper on Steve Nichols Drive-time Radio 2018-04-24
Video by Black Crow Media for WVGA 105.9 FM, Valdosta, GA

I don’t know why the video is mirror-flipped, but below are a few stills right-way around.

If you want to see the whole morning’s video, it’s on the show’s website. This interview runs about -23:40 to -1:20.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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

Troupville cleanup, Interview
Troupville cleanup, Interview

Hi, Helen, Interview
Hi, Helen, Interview

Tires and a boat, Interview
Tires and a boat, Interview

Metal signs, Interview
Metal signs, Interview

Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail, Interview
Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail, Interview

BIG Little River Paddle Race, Reed Bingham SP, 2018-04-28, Interview
BIG Little River Paddle Race, Reed Bingham SP, 2018-04-28, Interview

Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Cedar Key, 2018-06-23, Interview
Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Cedar Key, 2018-06-23, Interview

Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Valdosta, 2018-05-31, Interview
Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Valdosta, 2018-05-31, Interview

Newsletter: Tannin Times, Interview
Newsletter: Tannin Times, Interview

WWALS clean sweep at site of old Troupville, GA 2018-04-21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hahira, GA, April 23, 2018 — Fifty children and adults helped WWALS clean up the site of old Troupville Saturday, with permission and thanks from the landowner where that former Lowndes County seat goes down to the Little River Confluence with the Withlacoochee River, just west of Valdosta.

Cleanup leader WWALS member Bobby McKenzie said:

We met at the signs for safety/execution briefing. I was able to talk about the signs and water trail to 50 folks and when I asked who knew about the Little and Withlacoochee Rivers and being able to kayak them, only 2 folks were aware. Now 50 more folks are aware…and half were kids…but some of the best kind of kids…Boy and Girl Scouts!

Scouts and all, Sign
Photo: Bobby McKenzie for WWALS 2018-04-21, at Troupville Boat Ramp, by the WWALS signs for the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT) that Phil Hubbard planted 2018-04-20.

Landowner Helen Tapp, whose family LLC gave permission for this cleanup, added:

What a fabulous turn-out of Earth Day workers! Thank you so much for Continue reading

Suwannee Riverkeeper on Steve Nichols drive-time radio 105.9FM WVGA 2018-04-24

Update 2018-04-24: video.

Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM I’ll be on the air with Steve Nichols talking about:

Plus the cleanup we just did at the site of old Troupville (thanks KLVB, VLPRA, and especially the landowners, including Helen Tapp), the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT), and maybe a few words about water quality monitoring.

Suwannee Riverkeeper on Steve Nichols radio 105.9FM WVGA, Stills

When: 8:30 AM Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Where: The Morning Drive with Steve Nichols, 105.9FM WVGA Continue reading

Tickets now available for Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Valdosta

For rivers, oceans, and land, tickets are now available through Eventbrite to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. You can buy them online and print them. WWALS board members also have physical tickets you can buy.

Date and Time: Thu, May 31, 2018
7:00 PM — 10:00 PM EDT

Location: Mathis Auditorium
2300 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA 31602

What: Celebrating fifty years of Wild and Scenic River designations by Congress, this film festival showcases frontline issues and activism with stunning cinematography. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that individuals propel the groundswell of the environmental movement. Collectively, we CAN make a difference!

Featured at the tour event in Valdosta, GA will be Continue reading

Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2018-05-31

Update 2018-04-16: Tickets now available!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valdosta, GA, April 5, 2018 — WWALS Watershed Coalition (Suwannee Riverkeeper) announces a Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta as a natural extension of WWALS’ work to inspire people to act for fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters.

WSFF WWALS Logo, Graphics When: 7PM, Thursday, May 31, 2018

Where: Mathis Auditorium,
2300 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA 31602

Event: facebook, meetup

WWALS WSFF Poster,
To print this poster, use the PDF.

Tickets: Available at the door, and pre-sale tickets will be available soon are available online and on paper now.

What: Wild & Scenic focuses on films which speak to Continue reading

Afternoon Saturday Azalea Festival 2018-03-10

Come on down and look over the pictures of the Withlacoochee, Alapaha, and Suwannee Rivers Gretchen printed. WWALS will be at Azalea Festival again today.

Shirley, Gretchen, pictures are a hit, Volunteers

Where: Drexel Park, north of E. Brookwood Drive, between North Patterson Street and Williams Street
30.846771, -83.285066
(across Patterson from VSU)
That’s on One Mile Branch, which flows into Sugar Creek, then the Withlacoochee River, the Suwannee, to the Gulf.

WWALS booth: First thing you see coming in the main entrance from Slater Street. Continue reading