Anti Pipeline Rally: Josh Fox in Schoharie, NY

Published on Apr 9, 2015

This is at the Press Conference in Days Inn, Schoharie, NY; by a group of organizations concerned about the latest, 30" gas pipeline coming through NY and the group of additional gas compressor stations along the route; Open House followed this by the Kinder Morgan Pipeline Company with their reps...Mohawk Nation Natives of NY attended and in the background. Like Josh says , we don't need this gas and we can be 100% independent using non-fossil fuels alternatives...

Video:  Vera Scroggins

New Pipeline: Silver Lake Township, Susquehanna County, PA

Published on May 21, 2013
Taped 5-20-13. I was coming home yesterday from a funeral and saw this on the road to my home in my township. Ground broken open, trees cut down, 100 ft. swatches cut open and scraped to the ground, mounds of earth dug up. Shocking for me and disturbing. More compressor stations will be coming besides the 21 being built and permitted right now in our county of Susquehanna, Pa.. More pipelines will be coming also. These pipelines connect the gas pads with multiple wells in my area, within a mile of my home.

Video by Vera Scroggins, Independent Journalist/Videographer

"Who'd have thought that people would allow this?"

An Aerial View of Fracking: Pennsylvania

Published on Jul 27, 2012 Peter Saltonstall, a landowner in the Finger Lakes region of NY, takes us on a flyover of natural gas drilling sites in Pennsylvania. We show the scope and scale of hydrofracking in Pennsylvania. Gas pads, pipelines, and road construction are common sites in the rural landscape. Saltonstall considers the potential for job creation, energy independence, and tax gains, while showing the environmental impact of hydrofracking. This video will spark curiosity and inform viewers on both sides of the debate.

BAN FRACKING IN NEW YORK STATE

NOT ONE WELL!

George Feighner of New Jersey: "I cry for my trees..."

Published on Feb 17, 2013 George Feighner, wept today (2/16) as 70-year old white pines were clearcut less than 100 feet from his front door by pipeline contractors who started cutting yesterday morning after receiving a Notice to Proceed from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday (2/4). George is an 86-year old man in Montague, NJ living just off the banks of the Delaware River, and had his 60-acre property condemned for eminent domain to be the path of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Loop 323. The upgraded pipeline will transport Marcellus Shale gas to Mahwah, NJ giving enormous incentives for the industry to fully develop the shale and build new natural gas power plants, including the one proposed in Newark, NJ. George has been involved in a legal appeal for over a year of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision. FERC members have all been appointed or re-appointed by Barack Obama who spoke in favor of "cutting the red tape for oil and gas permits" during his State of the Union. Obama holds the power to order his Army Corps of Engineers representative on the Delaware River Basin Commission to stop this project and put it under further review and has yet to act, as well as Governor Andrew Cuomo, Governor Jack Markell, Governor Chris Christie, and Governor Tom Corbett. Tennessee Gas Pipeline company is itself a subsidiary of El Paso, which is a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan of Tar Sands oil pipeline fame. Check out our website for actions you can take to support our struggle to stop the Tennessee Pipeline, even if you can't be with us here in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. www.notennesseepipeline.blogspot.com By: Stop the Tennessee Gas Pipeline

The Beginning of the Constitution Pipeline (PA)

Even if you don't know a lot about gas pipelines, well pads, or compressor stations, you can appreciate what you are seeing here in this aerial video of the Williams Central Station.  Look at the contrast between the beauty of the fall foliage, the bright green fields, and the surrounding natural environment versus the well pads and compressor station which are destroying this beauty at so many levels, both above ground and underground.  The eye can only see a small portion of the destruction, but it is enough to fill me with dread.  All this industrialization- and for what?  A few years of fossil fuel extraction.  Before long, we will be forced to find sustainable alternatives.  Meanwhile we are still hellbent on destruction of the planet. Why?  We are ruled by corporations, and these corporations are filled with selfish, greedy people who care nothing about the planet.  Can this be refuted?  I think not.

New York Times Publishes Photos of Fracking

October 11th the New York Times published this photo essay of scenes of hydrofracking and other related operations such as flaring and pipelines. There are also photos of people who have been severely impacted by the natural gas industry: the collateral damage, the ones who have no say, the ones who don't matter to the Big Gas people. These photos are beautifully done, very professional, breathtaking if it weren't for the destruction they show. Aerial photos are so revealing! Wide shots give us all a glimpse of the devastation we can't always see otherwise.

Aerial Photos of Pennsylvania Gas Development

Aerial photographs of the natural gas exploration being done in and around the Pine Creek Valley in Central PA. Photos by Bill Crowell.

Citizen Journalist Vera Talks With a Gas Worker (PA)

Published on Aug 27, 2012 by veraduerga

Taped 8-27-12. Young Gas Worker tells me that gas drilling is safe and not to worry.

My comment:  This young man is typical of the sheep that work in the gas industry, sheep because they question nothing and trust that the PA DEP will protect everyone.  These people are blustery, rude, and naive without realizing it.  They seem to want to intimidate others.  His biggest concern is that the gas industry brings jobs.  Good point, however most of these jobs are low-paying and many are temporary with no benefits and are extremely dangerous to workers.  Furthermore, this guy, when asked if jobs are worth destroying the future for our kids and grandkids, seemed to poo-poo the thought and wanted Vera to think this was a ridiculous notion.  He did not know to whom he was speaking- obviously.  As usual, great reporting, Vera.

My heart goes out to people who need good jobs.  I can understand why they would take jobs in the gas industry, but it is a doomed situation.  With no good air or water there will be no way to live in these areas and therefore no jobs or people around to take them. 

Constitution Pipeline: Rebecca Roter Speaks Up (PA)

Are people protected from harm when a pipeline goes in? Not if the area is Class One. No oversight for public safety. Hear from Rebecca Roter how a gas pipeline will impact this resident of Susquehanna County. She tells a lot about the facts of the situation, but then when the interviewer asks her about the emotional impacts of what is happening, you can see the human toll the gas industry is taking. The industry is ruining her property and her life. The worst thing is that Cabot and Williams Midstream really don't care about the people that live in the areas they are destroying.

A Huge Sinkhole In Louisiana Near Gas Well and Pipeline

Breaking news with updates from Assumption Parish, LA  (from Texas Sharon).......yesterday a huge sinkhole covering several acres appeared, swallowing trees and causing the area to be evacuated.  You won't hear this on network news.

Read more here. Photos included.

Visit Marcellus Effect blog for the story there.  Thanks to Sue Heavenrich for her great reporting.

Pipeline Sabotage In Bradford County, PA

Police have yet to figure out who is responsible for causing $50,000 in damage to a natural gas pipeline in Bradford County. Troopers say sometime between March 23 and April 12, someone, or a group of people, put a log inside of a natural gas pipeline on Ridge Road, in Orwell Township. Gas pipelines are buried everywhere, and the miles of pipelines increase by the day. They are buried in rural areas, remote ares, places where families live, yet not densely populated. There is no regulation in Class One areas for pipelines. These are areas where homes are not close together, spread out. People angry about the destruction of the land and the danger of pipelines can easily damage or sabotage a pipeline. This is a given and will be true for as long as we have fossil fuels travelling to main gas arteries.

Compressor Stations In Our Backyards?

A leader in the fight against the anti-health, anti-environment, anti-people, greed-filled gas industry speaks at a DEP Public Meeting at Elk Lake School in Susquehanna County.  She and others testified about our concerns. Four more Gas Compressors are coming to Susquehanna County in the north along the Laser Gathering Line. Tons of emissions are allowed for each and constant noise emissions. Taped 4-26-12.

We cannot allow Big Gas to pollute our residential areas.  Gas drilling is unhealthy for children and other living things.

Thank you, Vera, for your work to save Pennsylvania and all areas being destroyed by Big Gas.

News From PA: Certain Natural Gas Pipeline Records Not Public

Iris Marie Bloom of Protecting Our Waters has uncovered a disturbing fact: The PA Commonwealth Court has ruled that Public Utility Commission (PUC) records concerning the safety of natural gas pipelines are not public records.  PA's Right to Know laws are considered among the weakest in the nation.

If the public is forced to live near pipelines, which are hidden underground and which are known to leak and explode,  why is information regarding pipelines hidden from the public?  This seems unnecessary at best, and criminal at worst. 

Ms. Bloom applauds Dick Martin, Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition, for his willingness to take on the PUC and PA's Right to Know laws.  I add my admiration and appreciation to Mr. Martin for his work on the people's behalf.

Read more here and here...

Public safety is a public issue.

We have a right to know.

MARC 1 Gas Pipeline To Be Installed Near Elementary School

If your child attends the Wyalusing Valley Elementary School in Wyalusing, PA,  I suppose you will be glad to know that measures will be taken during the installation of the MARC 1 pipeline to insure your child's safety.  Noise pollution will be kept to an acceptable minimum, and the school district's water well will be protected from contamination.  Great!  No problem.  However, if you think perhaps there might still be a problem with putting in a 30-inch wide major pipeline a mere 897 feet from the school building,  you might not be so impressed with all the precautions the Central New York Oil and Gas Company is taking.  The Susquehanna River is near the school.  This pipeline operation will bore beneath the river only 40 feet underneath the river bottom.  Noise-producing equipment used to drill under the river will be located 875 feet from the school.  Central NY Oil and Gas has hired a noise consultant.  Sound barriers will be put up.  Nice touch there. And the best part- a full-time environmental inspector will be on site.  So all bases have been covered I guess.  The drilling company has assured Wyalusing residents that the pipeline would not pose any danger to students.  So don't we all feel better now?

Read the article from the Towanda Daily Review here. LINK
Read what Standing Stone resident Diane Ward said about the approval process for this pipeline.  Very interesting.  Also Google "pipeline accidents."  You might be surprised. Here's one site to start with: LINK.

And if you would like a broader perspective, here is a presentation from 2005 entitled "Restoring Public Trust in Pipeline Safety."

Pipelines are very dangerous.  They should not be installed near ANYTHING, much less an elementary school.  Are we crazy to allow this to happen?  I think we are.

Senate Passes a Bill With Strings Attached: Keystone Pipeline

The Senate has passed a bill onto the President which forces him to make a decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline within 60 days. All eyes are now focused on the oval office. Help us get the word out that the crucial decision we've all worked so hard for is now rapidly approaching.

Photo: Amy Dewan— with Deborah Dee Jacobs.

White House Comment Line:

1-202-456-1111

A Pipeline Comes To Town: Dallas, PA

In Dallas, PA, this pipeline preparation gouges the forest, plucking up the old trees like matchsticks and hauls them off as if they are of no value. A resident who treasured this place wrote:

Every school day for 8 years, I traveled past this corner . Admiring the beautiful stone walls on the property - wondering: who built them, how did they build such magnificent perfect walls, where did the stone come from, how long did it take to build it.... now it's all gone. Breaks my heart.

Check out Susquehanna River Sentinel.  Excellent views about the gas drilling industry from a PA resident.

Laurel Lake Creek Pipeline Drilling Resumes (Susquehanna County, PA)

Salt Spring State Park
Laurel Lake Creek flows into Silver Creek which flows through this park.
[Photo: Gary Li]

It's a go for Laser Northeast Gathering Company!  They can now resume their installation of the 33-mile natural gas pipeline.  They had a little glitch- three "inadvertent returns" of drilling mud- this month, but now everything is back to drill, baby, drill normal.  The pipeline has to go under Laurel Lake Creek, a stream designated as an exceptional value waterway.  However, in eleven days, there were three accidents involving mud mixed with bentonite surging up into the pristine creek and making an utter mess.  The PA DEP is saying that there will be no lasting damage, no effect on aquatic creatures.  They say that most of the spilled material was recovered.  Think about this:  You pour gallons and gallons of mud into a creek.  How do you know you got most of it up?  And how do you really know how much mud actually did come up out of the ground and into that water? 

Laser CEO Thomas Karam met with DEP Secretary Michael Krancer in Harrisburg Monday and got the go-ahead to proceed with the pipeline project. They re-started drilling on Tuesday.  They are going to use a smaller drill to try and "intercept the existing pilot bore."  Laser already constructed a flume at the site to divert the water around the bore.  See video.

No fines have been levied thus far. 

Comment regarding the mud return from Susquehanna River Watch: LINK

FIRST, DO NO HARM

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primum_non_nocere]

LINK to PressConnects article.

Danger: Pipelines

Pipeline in Bradford County, PA (2009)
Photo: Carol Manuel

If you are like me,  the millions of gas pipelines, a virtual web,  which lay beneath our feet have been no cause for concern in the past.  I never gave them a thought.  But now, gas pipelines have been more and more in the news as old ones explode and new ones have poor safety records.  Just Google pipeline accidents, and you will see what I mean.

It was reported in the Times Herald-Record online article July 23rd that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the Columbia Gas Transmission Line Company for a "possible pollution event" in Pike County, PA. The investigation will center around the Clean Streams Law.

Susan Beecher, executive director of the Pike County Conservation District, reports that there have been problems with this pipeline project from the very beginning.  Columbia is replacing a 14-inch diameter gas line installed in 1947 with new 20-inch pipes. So far at least 11 violations of the Clean Streams Law have been noted since June 27. 

Beecher asked the PA DEP to issue a compliance order to stop work on the project.  But that did not happen.  The DEP suggested that there be a conference to talk about the problem.  That took place July 8.  So now the Columbia Gas Company is making an effort to ensure more erosion control measures. I think it is troubling that gas companies get so many chances to fix accidents and are rarely fined.  When fines are levied, they are so small that it is a joke.

LINK

This Picture Is Changing Due To Gas Wells and MARC1 Pipeline

Join 22,000 other people who’ve already spoken out against the construction of a huge gas pipeline that would ruin the beauty of Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains – a region of rolling green hills, farms, covered bridges, and waterfalls. Trouble is brewing as developers plan a massive 39-mile gas pipeline, known as the MARC 1 Hub Line Project, that would cut through 610 acres in Bradford, Sullivan, and Lycoming Counties and bring with it heavy machinery, roads, and other unwanted development.  It will cross high quality streams as well and spur gas drilling in previously undeveloped areas while threatening public health and the environment. 

EarthJustice hopes to persuade a court that a full environmental impact statement is necessary to approve the MARC 1 pipeline.  If this effort is successful, it will be the FIRST such study of Marcellus Shale impacts in Pennsylvania.

Click here to go to the EarthJustice page. There is a map of the pipeline there.  Look for the Take Action button to take you to the page where you can click on "Which do you like better? Picnics or Pipelines?  You can add your name to those opposed!

Take action now before the July 11th deadline!

The photo above: You are looking down at French Azilum in Bradford County as seen from Route 6 at the Marie Antoinette Lookout.  Why do we need to destroy this view?

Old Pipelines: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Old pipelines are ticking time bombs