More speakers against FERC here.
Tag Archives: springs
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
WWALS hopes to block Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline –Ocala StarBanner
Add that many WWALS members, some pictured here on the Suwannee River
at the proposed Sabal Trail crossing, live in Florida,
and this article from that same day is a good summary of the situation a week ago.
It was also picked up by
Bakken.com, “Powered by Shale Plays Media”.
Christopher Curry, Ocala StarBanner, 15 August 2015, Georgia-based group hopes to block natural gas pipeline, Continue reading
Mayday to Statenville paddle trip on the Alapaha river.
Alapaha River Water Trail Committee Chair Chris Graham went with a few friends to paddle this scenic section of the Alapaha River Water Trail. We saw many wildlife and no invasive species on this section of this blueway, plus we saw a couple of small springs and one of them was an amazing waterfall.
Continue reading
Continue reading Landowner on Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County FL moves to intervene against Sabal Trail –Chris Mericle
Drilling under the Withlacoochee River could have catastrophic effects, a landowner near the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County, Florida reminds us. Chris Mericle is also a WWALS board member.
Intervenor is a resident of Hamilton County, Florida and lives near the Proposed Sabal Trail Route where it crosses the Withlacoochee River. As such, I am concerned about the adverse and potentially catastrophic effects that the construction and operation of a 36” diameter gas pipeline will have on Fresh Water Resources including Springs and the Floridan Aquifer.
Here’s how you or your organization can file a motion to intervene.
Filed with FERC 22 December 2014 as Accession Number: 20141222-5037, “Motion to Intervene of Christopher J Mericle under CP15-17, et. al.” Continue reading
FERC and Sabal Trail at the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County, FL
Filed with FERC 16 September 2014 as Report of Christopher J Mericle , On site meeting with local property owners, FERC and Sabal Trail at the proposed Withlacoochee river crossing Hamilton Co. Florida under PF14-1. Chris and Deanna Mericle are our local hosts for the WWALS outing at that same affected location 10 AM this Sunday, September 21st 2014. -jsq
9-10-14
Local property owners met with FERC and Sabal Trail to voice concerns with the proposed Natural Gas pipeline route where it crosses the Withlacoochee River in Hamilton County, Florida. We had a great turnout of local support. Also in attendance, supporting our cause, was David Brown, Florida Certified Geologist, Jessica Norfleet, Constituent Advocate representing U.S. Congressman Ted Yoho, and Louie Goodin, Hamilton Co. Coordinator representing Hamilton Co. Board of Commissioners.
Attendees for FERC included John Peconom, Project manager, James Martin, Chief-Gas Branch3 and at least 4 other people.
Sabal had over 10 people attending from all areas of expertise including Andrea Glover, public relations, and Greg Jones, Geologist.
There was discussion of Continue reading
Resolution No. 14-10, Hamilton County, FL, 19 August 2014
Other Florida, Georgia, and Alabama counties could do what Hamilton County,
Florida just did in this
this resolution.
Even before it got this resolution, FERC yesterday
directed Sabal Trail to deal with what Chris Mericle had been saying,
including proposing routes to minimize crossing the Withlacoochee River
or to avoid crossing it entirely.
Chris Mericle sent a PDF copy of the resolution with its attached hydrogeological report. I’ve added links to the other referenced documents.
Chris is the local host for the
September WWALS Outing on the Withalacoochee and Suwannee Rivers,
where you can come float past that same area
Sunday 21 September,
and see many local springs, sinkholes and shoals
that need to be protected from that pipeline.
RESOLUTION NO. 14-10
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HAMILTON COUNTY, FLORIDA Continue reading
Sabal Trail avoid sensitive karst regions –Hamilton County FL Commission to FERC
Last Friday a resolution to FERC saying the Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline
should avoid sensitive karst limeston regions affecting water resources
passed the Hamilton County, Florida Commission.
Joyce Marie Taylor has added the following to her article in the Suwannee Democrat 25 August 2014, Hamilton fights back against Sabal Trail pipeline,
A special meeting was called on Friday, Aug. 22, and the board voted to pass Resolution 14-10 that expressed their concerns about the proposed pipeline route across the Withlacoochee River that forms the western boundary of Hamilton County.
A portion of the resolution states, Continue reading