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| Photo, Wendy Lynne Lee |
Dear Pennsylvania citizen,
Whether or not you live along the right-of-way of Williams Partners proposed Atlantic Sunrise
Pipeline, and regardless whether you’ve been contacted by their aggressive landmen, you need to be aware of several serious issues regarding this
massive natural gas pipeline project. My message is simple: whether or not you
live on or adjacent to the pipeline right-of-way, you could be impacted by this
project in ways that endanger you property values, your health, and your
community. Do you know that
· the primary goal of the 42 inch, 177 mi. Atlantic Sunrise expansion of the TRANSCO is export to global markets via, for example, Dominion Energy’s planned 3.8 billion dollar Cove Point Liquefaction Project—recently approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) over 650 registered comments, virtually all of them opposed?
· the ecological costs—borne by taxpayers—of Williams’ pipeline project include forest fragmentation, soil compaction, escalated flooding potential, water and air pollution—including possible exposure to carcinogens as well as neurotoxins?
· the Atlantic Sunrise expansion will require compressor stations attended by their own unique hazards—including the emission of ozone, volatile organic compounds and other toxins, as well as the potential for explosion? Do you know that the explosion radius of any one of these compressors can exceed a half-mile?
· no Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was required for issue of the permit at Cove Point?
· Williams has a very disturbing record of pipeline leaks and explosions, several which have resulted in human casualties?
· the natural gas industry’s own estimate is that –with this massive pipeline infrastructure in place—as many as 100,000 hydraulically fractured—fracked— wells could be on the horizon for Pennsylvanians?
· the Department of Environmental Protection has finally released its report of at least 243 instances of drinking well contamination directly due to fracking since 2008? There are currently about 8200 operating unconventional gas wells in the state. Can you imagine the potential for contamination from 100,000?
· FERC has approved three other LNG export projects, all in the Gulf of Mexico: the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project, the Freeport LNG Project, and the Cameron LNG Project. Are you aware that fourteen LNG export proposals are pending, but expect approval?
· the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) inspects only 7% of the 305,000 miles of the natural gas pipeline currently operating in the U.S.?
The Atlantic Sunrise poses
unacceptable risks not only to the environment, but to human health and
welfare. In addition,
·
Do you know that if
you’re directly on the pipeline right-of-way, it could
Ø
Endanger your
property values?
Ø
Endanger you and
your children’s health?
Ø
Endanger your
ability to secure homeowner’s insurance, second mortgages, and market value for
your property?
Ø
Endanger your
basic right to determine the use of your property by threatening its
appropriation through eminent domain?
Ø
Endanger the
clean air and water upon which your community depends?
·
Do you know that even
if you’re not directly on the
pipeline right-of-way, it could
Ø
Endanger your
property values?
Ø
Endanger you and
your children’s health?
Ø
Endanger your
ability to secure homeowner’s insurance, second mortgages, and market value for
your property?
Ø
Endanger the
clean air and water upon which your community depends?
Do not let this happen.
For more information, including the EIS and the FERC documents, please see:
For opportunities to action, please see:
For a printable copy of this letter, please contact wlee@bloomu.edu
