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Builders/Owners - Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Drillers and Sellers of Gas - Kinder Morgan Sources of Gas - Fracking wells in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania & NY. About the Gas Company. Planned to connect at hub in Wright, NY Enter MA at Richmond
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Builders/Owners - Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Drillers and Sellers of Gas - Kinder Morgan Sources of Gas - Fracking wells in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania & NY About the Gas Company
Planned to connect at hub in Wright, NY Enter MA at Richmond Follow high tension electric lines to Deerfield Cross Deerfield & Connecticut Rivers Up toward NH border towns to terminal in Dracut The Pipeline Route
NORTHEAST EXPANSION Majority of the proposed route is a buried 30” high-pressure transmission line containing natural gas obtained by fracking. In eastern Middlesex Co., will be a 36” diameter line About the Pipelines CONNECTICUT EXPANSION New pipeline to be run alongside two older ones. 36” with a “pigging facility”
COMPRESSOR STATIONS • Placed every 40-60 miles to maintain pressure along the line. • Barn size facilities on several acres with approx. 10 ft. diameter fans that run 24/7 and substantial lighting at night. Noise levels usually range from 50-90 decibels at distance. • They also exhaust gas and fracking chemical residues. About the Pipeline
MODERN COMPRESSOR STATION in PA About the Pipeline
CUSTOMERS FOR GAS Customers most often mentioned are primarily electric generation plants out east and a few proposed lateral lines. Pipeline capacity is nearly 10 times what's needed for these. Company's memos also cite LNG developers and sending gas northward, mentioning Canadian Maritimes. About the Pipeline
NOT YOUR GRAMPA'S PIPELINE Not like the LP or natural gas line to your house. 30” diameter, holding chemical-laden fracked gas, known to contain many dozens of carcinogens, neurotoxins & endocrine disrupters. Maintains pressure up to 1,500 psi More pressure for steep terrain Ruptures and explosions create super-hot extended burns until miles of gas between safety valves burns off About the Pipeline
20” Pipeline in West Virginia2/3 the diameter • 30” would be 2.25 times more capacity
Planning and Survey• TGP/Kinder Morgan approaches landowners and some towns for survey• Developing detailed map and review of conditions for applying to FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) for Certificate 2) Pre-Filing• Starts once TGP/Kinder Morgan files application with FERC• Public Comment Period when general public, NGOs, Govt. Agencies can file reports and opinions on the impact of the pipeline• Gas company and FERC required to hold public hearings with towns in which the pipeline is to be built 3) Construction• Starts once FERC grants “Certificate of Convenience & Public Necessity”April 2017 - November 2018 Stages of Pipeline Development
DELAY THE SURVEY & PLANNING! This was the death of a pipeline in Wakefield / Saugus area in 2008 Saying no forces them to file with Mass DPU for permission – stall of 4-6 months Can appeal to the DPU with Public Comment or as Intervenor LANDOWNERS If you’re approached for a survey - TELL THEM NO If you’ve already said yes, but haven’t signed an agreement, you can rescind permission – sample letter online Talk to your select board, planning commission, conservation commission and tell them to tell the pipeline company no surveys Saying no to the survey is not the same as not negotiating an easement! What We Can Do
PUT ORGANIZED RESISTANCE IN PLACEFOR DPU OR FERC HEARINGS TOWNS Vote in a Non-Binding Resolution against the pipeline - Find out deadline submission deadline and require no. of signatures - Draft up the Resolution & get signatures - Turn in town select board for review - Bring out the vote Conservation / Planning CommissionsIdentify areas of ecological sensitivity and gather any protective resolutions or ordinances already in place or draft up new ones!Conservation & Land Trust GroupsWrite statement of intent to protect the lands under your care What We Can Do
DELAY THE SURVEY & PLANNING! INDIVIDUALS Sign the State-Wide Petition Send link to online petition to email and social mediaPrint out petiton and gather petitions at meeting places- Civic organization meetings - Shopping centers & gathering spots, cafés- School events – Festivals, fairs, farmers markets Talk to your neighbors & friendsThere are no public announcements yet – talk to your family & friends and let them know. Reach out to people in other parts of the state as well. Write Letters to the Editor, Invite Reporters to PresentationsGet the word out!Hold letter-writing parties to help friends get motivated. What We Can Do
PREPARE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Research all you can on: - Laws and protections in place to be brought up as objections - Protected open land, wetlands, forest - Endangered species in pipeline's path - Contact state agencies who manage these - Health and safety concerns (try to back up with statements from)- Emergency management officials – can they handle rupture or explosion? - Power companies and electric, railroad and other worker's unions - Local Dept. of Public Works, water quality issues Talk to your elected officials and gov't agencies: Local, State and Federal - State your concerns - Ask them questions - Back any legislation that would boost efficiency or clean energy What We Can Do
PREPARE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Research all you can on: - Economic issues - Fuel and utility prices will remain subject to market volatility - Finite resource, price will only go up, especially if exported - Paid for by new tariff on ratepayers - Abutting land owner's issues (informational meetings for land owners?) - Resale value - Damage to ability to get mortgage & insurance - Restrictions on land use (cannot drive over pipeline, cut off from own land) - Still paying regular property taxes What We Can Do
www.nofrackedgasinmass.org- Maps of proposed pipeline route - Town by Town listing of mobilization effort - Increasing volume of information (with sources cited) - Contact info for legislators & regulatory agencies - Resource Materials (Info sheets, sample letters, sample resolution) - Link to State-Wide Petition to Ban New Gas Pipelines and Champion Sustainable Energy Online Resources