It's really important for people to comment ASAP to the new Docket (CP16-21), as PLAN-NE did, asking that the deadline for filling Motions to Intervene be set for after the holidays. The length of time allowed to file as an intervenor has varied from project to project, and given the timing of this filing close to the busiest holiday season, it stands to reason that this one have an extended filing period.
 

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New Round of TGP Letters to Landowners

Aside from the recently round or repeat requests from TGP to landowners, asking for permission to survey (and threatening action through the Massachusetts DPU if they don't volunteer permission), we're now hearing about a new group receiving this letter as well - landowners whose properties abut the pipeline route, but are not crossed by it.

For all parties receiving this letter, the advice remains the same:
• Do not give permission to survey. Kinder Morgan counts this as a compliant landowner when reporting to FERC
• You may either write PERMISISON DENIED on the letter or send one of our pre-drafted Denial of Permission letters
• If possible, scan or make several copies of your denial letter.
• Send the original back to TGP by Certified Mail, so there is proof of receipt by them
• Send a copy to the FERC Docket (now Docket #CP16-21), so it is registered
• Keep a copy for any surveyors that may approach your property anyway (sometimes claiming that you've ended up on their survey list)
• Keep a copy handy to file with your local police if you come home to find that surveyors have entered your property anyway. If this happens, do not remove the stakes immediately. Take photos and file a report with local police, who may also want to visit the site.

» See our page on dealing with survey requests.

You may also want to have a Survey Permission Denied sign printed and laminated to place on your property.
 

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A note from Rose: Systemic Change Needed

As Founder of No Fracked Gas in Mass, I was asked by the Pipeline Safety Trust to attend their Annual Conference this year. It's attended by representatives from the liquid and gas pipeline industry, regulators and citizen activists and focuses on issues around pipeline safety.


(Unfortunately) Regulators all agree: Pipeline age is not an issue.

I'll be writing up blog posts about information learned and observations on the dynamics between stakeholder groups in the weeks to come, but the overall impression I came away with is that there needs to be systemic change to our regulatory system. Even agencies like PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration), who really are concerned about maximizing safety and eliminating accidents, get caught up in different layers of agency management, losing the full grasp of what the statistics of their reports mean to the individuals and communities in caught in the gaps in policy and implementation.

One of the more positive-sounding presentations was made by FERC Commissioner Collette Honorable. She spoke quite a bit about how regulatory agencies like FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) and others need to take citizen input more into account. In a private conversation, I asked her if FERC could set up within it's structure, a Consumer / Citizens' Advocate. She said that they had looked into it, but have not been able to receive funding for the post "from the folks on the Hill", aka Congress, and suggested pressing the issue with them to allow funding. This fits very much in with a campaign recently launched by fellow NED pipeline fighters, that is starting to spread nationwide - fixferc.com.