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Indybay Feature
FERC Approves Ruby Pipeline; Wyoming to Malin, OR
Recent FERC approval of the Ruby Pipeline proposed to deliver natural gas from Wyoming to Malin, OR happens to be the same location where the Pacific Connector proposed from Coos Bay would enter CA. Local residents, environmentalists and others are concerned that the many miles of pipeline delivering natural gas would also cause significant damage in the event of an earthquake or other natural hazards. Furthermore this distribution into CA is coming at the expense of neighbor states and decrease CA ratepayers from ever obtaining true energy independence.
Updates on Ruby Pipeline and Pacific Connector;
"Evidence continues to increase proving these LNG import projects are clearly not
needed...........
The Ruby pipeline, which is proposed to bring gas from the Rockies to Malin, Oregon,
the same place Pacific Connector is scheduled to connect into, was just given their
FERC stamp of approval. (See story below.) Ruby alone would bring in more gas to
Malin than the current receiving supply lines can handle. There are no plans to
increase capacity of these supply lines either as California has predicted gas usage
will remain flat to 2030.
On Tuesday, April 6th 2010, Attorney Andrew Stamp was chosen by the Coos County
Commission to be the Hearings Officer for the upcoming Pacific Connector Pipeline
Land Use permit hearing in Coos County. Pacific Connector has applied for their
permit and their application is currently being reviewed but has not yet been deemed
complete by the Coos County Planning Dept. If and when the application is approved
and a hearing is scheduled, we will be sure to let you know. Also, if you hear of
any other pipeline applications that have been applied for in other counties, please
let us know.
Earlier this week Pacific Connector sent out notices to potential impacted
landowners that included a "Consent form" and a "Right of Way Inspection form". I
would still like to recommend landowners please hold off and consult with an
attorney before signing these documents. If you do not have an attorney I am happy
to refer you to one who is well versed on these issues. Stay tuned also for further
updates........
_________________________________________
Events / News:
Thursday, April 15th: 7:00 p.m. Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Commission
meeting at Port Commission Chambers, 125 Central Ave, Suite 230, Coos Bay OR 97420.
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Coos County ORC Chromite mining Update: As of April 7th 2010 :
http://mgx.com/blogs/2010/04/07/orc-rallies-forces-and-calls-in-the-generals/
http://www.kcby.com/news/local/90053007.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
These News Story Links Below:
1) El Paso receives FERC approval for Ruby Pipeline
2) Meeting offers latest on Pipeline
3) Hamner will be Port spokeswoman
4) FERC Announces Meetings To Hear Oregon LNG Complaints
- A note concerning pipeline accident e-mails-
5) Inspectors to dig into Appomattox pipeline
6) Corrosion caused Appomattox pipeline rupture
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0519377920100405
El Paso receives FERC approval for Ruby Pipeline
* $3 bln Ruby pipeline's initial capacity will be 1.5 bcf
* GIP to invest up to $700 mln
* Construction expected to begin late spring 2010
HOUSTON, April 5 (Reuters) - El Paso Corp (EP.N) said on Monday that the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission has approved its $3 billion Ruby Pipeline project.
Pending rights-of-way from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, construction on the
675-mile, 42-inch interstate natural gas pipeline will begin in late spring 2010, El
Paso said. The project is scheduled to begin service in March 2011.
The pipeline will have an initial design capacity of up to 1 billion cubic feet of
gas per day.
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) will invest up to $700 million in the Ruby
project, El Paso said. GIP will then buy a half interest in the project once closing
conditions are satisfied.
The project wil transport natural gas from an existing supply hub in Opal, Wyoming,
to interconnections near Malin, Oregon, El Paso said. The gas will then be available
to California, Nevada and Pacific Northwest markets. (Reporting by Kristen Hays)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
El Paso News Release:
http://investor.elpaso.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97166&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1409655&highlight=
El Paso Corporation Receives FERC Approval for Ruby Pipeline
HOUSTON, TX, Apr 05, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP)
announced today that it has received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
approval for its Ruby Pipeline project. Ruby is a 675-mile, 42-inch interstate
natural gas pipeline that will access significant Rockies supplies and make them
available to consuming markets in California, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest.
"We are pleased to receive FERC approval for a major new pipeline that will benefit
both natural gas producers and consumers in the western United States," said Jim
Cleary, president of El Paso's Western Pipeline Group. "We are proud of the fact
that Ruby will be the first carbon-neutral pipeline in U.S. history, employing
industry-leading technologies and measures to mitigate potential climate, wildlife
and habitat impacts from its construction and operation."
Ruby will transport natural gas from an existing supply hub at Opal, Wyoming, to
interconnections near Malin, Oregon. It will have an initial design capacity of up
to 1.5 billion cubic feet per day. Pending receipt of rights of way from the Bureau
of Land Management, construction of the $3 billion project is scheduled to begin in
late spring 2010, and it is scheduled to be in service in March 2011.
El Paso has entered into agreements with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP),
whereby GIP will invest up to $700 million in the Ruby project. Upon satisfaction of
various closing conditions, GIP will acquire a 50 percent equity interest in the
project.
El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe,
efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest
interstate natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest
independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit http://www.elpaso.com......
For entire news release go to :
http://investor.elpaso.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97166&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1409655&highlight=
SOURCE: El Paso Corporation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upper Rogue Independent
http://www.urindependent.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2814:meeting-offers-latest-on-pipeline&catid=13:local&Itemid=35
Meeting offers latest on pipeline
Latest News
Monday, 05 April 2010 13:10
A meeting on March 30 at the Medford main library opposing the proposed 235-mile
Liquefied Natural Gas Pipeline was well attended by residents of the Upper Rogue,
including Bob and Gail Barker from Shady Cove. Their property will be the site for
horizontal directional drilling under the Rogue River and Barker told the audience
what it is like to live with the threat of the pipeline and possible eminent domain
hanging over their heads.
The meeting organized by Rogue Riverkeeper, Rogue Group Sierra Club and Friends of
Living Oregon Waters updated the crowd on where opponents of the 36-inch pipeline
are legally, environmental impacts and what can be done to stop the pipeline. The
speakers painted an ominous picture of impacts to fish, waterways, watersheds and
the economy if the pipeline is constructed by Pacific Connector and Williams
Pipeline Companies.
The pipeline that will carry one billion cubic feet of gas with 1,440 pounds of
pressure per square inch daily to California was approved by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission in December 2009. Not pleased with the decision, opponents and
the State of Oregon requested a rehearing. Lesley Adams, one of 200 Riverkeepers in
the world, explained "A rehearing is legal jargon for- we don't like your decision
and you had better reconsider or we will file a lawsuit." The petition was filed in
January and so far there is no decision from FERC on the rehearing which puts the
potential lawsuit on hold.
The project if completed, said Adams, would impact Coos Bay and the Coquille,
Umpqua, Rogue and Klamath Basins. It would cross 379 rivers and streams; require
clear-cutting of 270 acres of remaining old growth forests on public lands; and
locally cross 19 fifth-field watersheds including Rogue River/Shady Cove, Big Butte
and Little Butte Creeks in the Rogue Basin.
Eleven public drinking water source areas, including the watersheds serving the
Medford Water Commission and private wells would be crossed by the pipeline, added
Adams. With low rainfall and shortages of water, a concern is the 58-million gallons
of water needed for hydrostatic testing of the pipeline. Where will the water come
from and where will the water, now possibly contaminated, be released?
The Upper Rogue and its tributaries are home to anadromous fish species including
Coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead and Pacific lamprey. Five streams in the Rogue
Basin are already listed as water quality impaired on the Clean Water Act 303(d).
The affected streams are West Fork Trail Creek, Lick Creek, Salt Creek, North and
South Forks of Little Butte Creek, said Adams. The process could warm the water,
creating unhealthy conditions for spawning beds of fish.
Also of concern is the proposed drilling under the Rogue River for 3,000 feet of
pipeline that would be pulled through the opening. Fraq-outs (leaks) of the
lubricant, Bentonite Clay, could pollute the river and endanger already meager runs
of salmon and other wildlife. This in turn would not only affect the environment but
possibly tourism and the local economy. If drilling under the river is unsuccessful,
after the third try, an open wet cut would be implemented to get the pipeline
across, said speaker and affected landowner, Barker, whose property is the drilling
site.
About 80 miles of the pipeline would cross public lands and 150 miles would cross
private land. Barker asked rhetorically, "Why should we suffer the environmental
damage from the pipeline that is primarily serving California?" Oregon would receive
less than one percent of the gas and Barker pointed out the United States has over
100-years of natural gas supplies.
With the abundance of natural gas in our own country and Canada, opponents such as
Adams are concerned the pipeline could be used to export gas overseas. What was
considered paranoia a few years ago is today garnering a second look.
Barker talked about his two-acres that are forested with oak, pine and cedar trees.
A ninety foot swath of denuded land would hugely impact the property he bought in
2004. It would not grow back in his lifetime, he reflected. And the luck of the draw
put him in the east side of the river-the drill side.
Barker knows if he does not agree to sell the land, it will be taken by eminent
domain because FERC turns the power over to the pipeline companies. "At the end of
the day, there is no choice," said a resigned Barker.
Can the LNG pipeline be stopped? Dan Serres of FLOW told the audience their voice
matters and the louder they become, the less likely southern Oregon is to become the
weak spot on the West Coast. Pipeline companies have scouted Oregon, California,
Washington, Canada and Mexico looking for a spot to shunt this gas into the
California market. Oregon should not be the place of least resistance," he
emphasized.
Offering a practical solution, Serres said the Department of State Lands is
reviewing applications of leases on state lands for both the terminal and the
pipeline. He urged those present to immediately contact the parties that have the
power to stop the pipeline. Write and call Governor Kulongski, Michael Carrier the
Governor's Natural Resources Policy Director and Louise Solliday, DSL Director.
Oregon has all the power it needs to stop these projects. With the pipeline crossing
the Rogue River and violating the Clean Water Act, "It's a no brainer. We need to
give the agencies the backbone to do the right thing," Serres stressed...........
Contact information for the governor is (503)378-4582 or on website (Oregon.gov).
Michael Carrier is (503)986-6525 or Michael.carrier [at] state.or.us This e-mail
address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;
Louise Solliday (503)986-5224 or louise.c.solliday [at] state.or.us
By Margaret Bradburn
Of the Independent
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The following news story below was not put on-line, so there is no web link.
The World Newspaper
Business Secton C - 1
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
As The World turns
Bay Watch - by Nate Traylor
Hamner will be Port spokeswoman
More than 20 people applied to be the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay's
manager of communications and community affairs. Port officials interviewed four.
Guess who got the job.
Our own Assistant Editor Elise Hamner.
The World's loss, The port's gain.
"We're very pleased to have Elise join us," said spokesman Martin Callery, whom
Hamner will report to when she begins on April 19. "She brings a lot of community
knowledge and media background."
Callery is the current director of communications and freight mobility . Bringing
Hamner on board, he said, will free him up to focus more on transportation and
infrastructure projects.
Publisher/ Editor Clark Walworth is lining up interviews for Hamner's replacement.
"Elise had been a key part of our organization, and we're going to miss her."
Walworth said in a prepared statement. "The port is luck to get her. We hope to
announce her successor soon."
April 14 will be Hamner's last day at the World, a newspaper she has served for 15
years.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.naturaloregon.org/2010/04/06/ferc-announces-meetings-to-hear-oregon-lng-complaints/
FERC Announces Meetings To Hear Oregon LNG Complaints
April 6, 2010
By Dennis Newman
An LNG protest sign from FERC's December 2009 field trip in Washington County.
FERC is following through on promises to investigate landowner complaints against
Oregon LNG.
The agency has scheduled three public meetings in Oregon this month to give
landowners a chance to speak out, and the company a chance to defend itself.
It's unusual for FERC to investigate these kinds of complaints and to hold meetings.
If nothing else, it shows how much anger there is about the project among landowners
in Western Oregon.
The complaints started pouring into FERC after a field trip by agency and company
officials in December of last year. The officials spent two days visiting sites
along Oregon LNG's proposed 120-mile pipeline.
But instead of resolving conflicts, the tour may have only made things worse.
Some of the landowners say Oregon LNG officials collected GPS data during the visit,
a violation of agreements that allowed them on the properties. Other complaints
include last minute changes to maps and documents about the pipeline. The landowners
say they didn't know about the changes until after officials were gone- depriving
them of the chance to study the updates ahead of time and talk about them during the
field trip.
After FERC announced it would hold the meetings, Oregon LNG tried to convince the
agency to cancel them. It says it will attend the meetings under protest.
Here's the meeting schedule:
Tuesday, April 20
10:00am
Forest Grove Community Auditorium, 1915 Main St., Forest Grove
Wednesday, April 21
1:00pm
Clatsop County Courthouse, Judge Guy Boyington Building, 820 Exchange St., Astoria
Thursday, April 22
9:00am
Portland City Hall, Chamber Room, 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: I have received several e-mails lately about a pipeline accident and
explosion that has various titles such as; "Call before you dig"; "The Farmer and
His Post Hole Digger"; etc. The e-mail story is of course fabricated at the hand of
someone who would prefer that the truth about the accident not be known. The e-mail
insinuates that someone was out in the middle of a field digging a post hole and hit
a gas pipeline. The e-mail story insinuates that the person died and they never
found the body. This is not true. The accident did not happen because someone was
digging a post hole, it happened because the pipe was old and corroded and even
though it had just been inspected by the Williams Pipeline Company, they did not
catch how bad the condition of the pipe was. Yes, this is the same Williams
Pipeline Company that is in charge of the Pacific Connector Pipeline. I do not know
who is putting out the misinformation. And where are they getting they never found
a body ??? Of course they never found a body.......because one never existed!
See several news articles below on the accident. I have provided a link below where
you can go and see the same photos that have been circulating...............
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Must see photos of the Pipeline Explosion in Appomattox, VA :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14109575@N03/sets/72157607364744788/
Appomattox County Sheriff Wilson Staples said a Transco gas pipeline ruptured along
state Route 26 just north of the town of Appomattox at 7:47 a.m. The rupture gave
some residents just enough time to get out of their homes before an explosion
consumed two houses. (Sunday, Sep 14, 2008)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspectors to dig into Appomattox pipeline
http://www.newsadvance.com:80/lna/news/local/article/inspectors_to_dig_into_appomattox_pipeline/15069/
By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: April 9, 2009
Portions of a natural gas pipeline that run parallel to one that exploded in
Appomattox last fall will be unearthed and inspected in the coming weeks.
Williams Gas Co. will begin digging up about 12 places along the line for inspection
in hopes of bringing the line back up to full pressure, said Chris Stockton,
spokesman for the company. This line, called the C line, is one of three that run
side by side through Appomattox County carrying natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico
to New York.
The pressure on the C line had been reduced from its normal level of 800 pounds per
square inch to 640 psi after the explosion of its neighboring line on Sept. 14,
2008.
The natural gas it released blew into a fireball that scorched an area 1,125 feet in
diameter, according to preliminary findings in the federal investigation. Five area
residents were injured and two houses were leveled and several others damaged in the
blast.
Pressure was restored on the line that exploded, the B line, in December and on the
other line, the A line, the month before.
"We are bringing in equipment and preparing to mobilize for our C line inspections,
which will likely begin next week," Stockton said.
The inspection process should last about three weeks, he said.
"The inspections involve excavating certain areas of pipe and visually inspecting
the pipe's protective coating," he said. "If a section of pipe needs to be replaced,
then we will cut it out and replace it. There are about a dozen identified areas
where we will be performing these inspections across the county."
Once this process is complete, Williams will request approval from the U.S.
Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration to fully restore pressure to the line.
About 2,500 feet of the B line was replaced following the explosion.
The investigation into the failure revealed that the more than 50-year-old pipe was
corroding from the outside, and that thinning wasn't fully revealed by the tools
used to examine the pipes.
The natural gas pipelines that run through Appomattox are part of the Transco line,
which extends from the Gulf of Mexico to New York, including 858 miles in Virginia.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrosion caused Appomattox pipeline rupture
http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/corrosion_caused_appomattox_pipeline_rupture/11591/
By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: December 15, 2008
APPOMATTOX - Outside corrosion caused the rupture and subsequent explosion in
September of a natural gas pipeline just north of the town of Appomattox.
The analysis of Williams Gas Company's pipeline showed that the thinning wasn't
fully captured by the tools used to examine the pipes in service, said John
Batchelder, a pipeline integrity expert with the company.
"In the life of this pipeline, the coating became compromised," he said. "The rocks
in this ditch make it very difficult to protect this area."
The in-line inspection tool, run on the pipeline earlier this year, showed that the
pipe, as it crossed Virginia 26 just north of the town, showed some corrosion, but
not enough to mark it for immediate repair. Its neighboring two pipelines had
repairs in the same area recently.
"The initial results did not identify the corrosion as being as deep as it was,"
Batchelder said. "This area has a unique signature of corrosion. It stretched the
limits of the technology. We will take the learning we get from this and we will
apply it throughout the industry."
The new information into the cause of the explosion came days after the company
applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration to reinstate the line.
Larry Hjalmarson, vice president of operations, said if Williams' application to run
gas again in that line is approved, the company will start flowing gas at 640 pounds
per square inch - 20 percent less than its capacity of 800 psi. It will run at that
pressure through the winter before the company returns to PHMSA for approval to
increase it to 800 psi.
Last month, Williams brought the A line back into full service and hopes to increase
the pressure on the C line next spring.
About 2,500 feet of the B line's pipe has been replaced since it exploded, said Rob
Shoaf, pipeline integrity team leader with Williams. About 65 miles of pipe were
inspected and some 49 sites along that span were excavated. The pipe was pressure
tested with water earlier this month at 1,000 psi, the standard for new pipelines,
Shoaf said.
"We feel very confident that this pipeline is safe and ready to return to service,"
Shoaf said.
Hjalmarson said the earliest that Williams will receive approval to reinstate the B
line will be Friday.
That pipeline failed just before 8 a.m. on Sept. 14. The natural gas it released
blew into a fireball that scorched an area 1,125 feet in diameter, leveled two homes
and injured five people, according to preliminary findings in the federal
investigation. Some 100 homes were damaged in the blast, according to Hjalmarson."
more info & map found @;
http://kswild.org/programs/rogue-riverkeeper/no-lng-in-oregon
Another important detail overlooked by FERC was the recent earthquake in Wells, NV, less than twenty miles from the proposed Ruby Pipeline site;
"A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred near Wells, Nevada, on Thursday February 21, 2008, at 6:16 AM PST. The preliminary event location determined by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory is - Latitude: 41.1525N; Longitude: 114.8669W; Depth 6.7 km (4.2 miles). This location is approximately 6 miles (9 km) northeast of Wells. There are reports of significant damage. At this time the earthquake was apparently not associated with a previously mapped fault.
The mechanism of the main shock is “normal faulting”, which is the type of faulting that occurs typically in Nevada and other places where the crust of the earth is extending.
As of 5:00 PM on Feb 21, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory had located eleven aftershocks with magnitude of 4.0 or larger (listed below), and 35 with magnitude 3.0 or larger. The largest of these occurred at 3:57 PM Pacific Standard Time, and had a magnitude of 4.8. The majority of the aftershocks are located southwest of the epicenter of the main shock, and therefore closer to central Wells than the main shock.
Numerous aftershocks can be expected following an earthquake of this size and the local area should be prepared for additional felt earthquakes and potentially damaging earthquake ground motions. Following any moderate sized earthquake, there is a small increase in the probability of a larger earthquake in the local area.
The earthquake was felt throughout northeastern Nevada, southern Idaho, and western Utah."
The data reported here has been reviewed. For more information, contact the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, (775) 784-4975.
earthquake data found @;
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/feature/2008/wells.html
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/
"Evidence continues to increase proving these LNG import projects are clearly not
needed...........
The Ruby pipeline, which is proposed to bring gas from the Rockies to Malin, Oregon,
the same place Pacific Connector is scheduled to connect into, was just given their
FERC stamp of approval. (See story below.) Ruby alone would bring in more gas to
Malin than the current receiving supply lines can handle. There are no plans to
increase capacity of these supply lines either as California has predicted gas usage
will remain flat to 2030.
On Tuesday, April 6th 2010, Attorney Andrew Stamp was chosen by the Coos County
Commission to be the Hearings Officer for the upcoming Pacific Connector Pipeline
Land Use permit hearing in Coos County. Pacific Connector has applied for their
permit and their application is currently being reviewed but has not yet been deemed
complete by the Coos County Planning Dept. If and when the application is approved
and a hearing is scheduled, we will be sure to let you know. Also, if you hear of
any other pipeline applications that have been applied for in other counties, please
let us know.
Earlier this week Pacific Connector sent out notices to potential impacted
landowners that included a "Consent form" and a "Right of Way Inspection form". I
would still like to recommend landowners please hold off and consult with an
attorney before signing these documents. If you do not have an attorney I am happy
to refer you to one who is well versed on these issues. Stay tuned also for further
updates........
_________________________________________
Events / News:
Thursday, April 15th: 7:00 p.m. Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Commission
meeting at Port Commission Chambers, 125 Central Ave, Suite 230, Coos Bay OR 97420.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Coos County ORC Chromite mining Update: As of April 7th 2010 :
http://mgx.com/blogs/2010/04/07/orc-rallies-forces-and-calls-in-the-generals/
http://www.kcby.com/news/local/90053007.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
These News Story Links Below:
1) El Paso receives FERC approval for Ruby Pipeline
2) Meeting offers latest on Pipeline
3) Hamner will be Port spokeswoman
4) FERC Announces Meetings To Hear Oregon LNG Complaints
- A note concerning pipeline accident e-mails-
5) Inspectors to dig into Appomattox pipeline
6) Corrosion caused Appomattox pipeline rupture
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0519377920100405
El Paso receives FERC approval for Ruby Pipeline
* $3 bln Ruby pipeline's initial capacity will be 1.5 bcf
* GIP to invest up to $700 mln
* Construction expected to begin late spring 2010
HOUSTON, April 5 (Reuters) - El Paso Corp (EP.N) said on Monday that the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission has approved its $3 billion Ruby Pipeline project.
Pending rights-of-way from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, construction on the
675-mile, 42-inch interstate natural gas pipeline will begin in late spring 2010, El
Paso said. The project is scheduled to begin service in March 2011.
The pipeline will have an initial design capacity of up to 1 billion cubic feet of
gas per day.
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) will invest up to $700 million in the Ruby
project, El Paso said. GIP will then buy a half interest in the project once closing
conditions are satisfied.
The project wil transport natural gas from an existing supply hub in Opal, Wyoming,
to interconnections near Malin, Oregon, El Paso said. The gas will then be available
to California, Nevada and Pacific Northwest markets. (Reporting by Kristen Hays)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
El Paso News Release:
http://investor.elpaso.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97166&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1409655&highlight=
El Paso Corporation Receives FERC Approval for Ruby Pipeline
HOUSTON, TX, Apr 05, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP)
announced today that it has received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
approval for its Ruby Pipeline project. Ruby is a 675-mile, 42-inch interstate
natural gas pipeline that will access significant Rockies supplies and make them
available to consuming markets in California, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest.
"We are pleased to receive FERC approval for a major new pipeline that will benefit
both natural gas producers and consumers in the western United States," said Jim
Cleary, president of El Paso's Western Pipeline Group. "We are proud of the fact
that Ruby will be the first carbon-neutral pipeline in U.S. history, employing
industry-leading technologies and measures to mitigate potential climate, wildlife
and habitat impacts from its construction and operation."
Ruby will transport natural gas from an existing supply hub at Opal, Wyoming, to
interconnections near Malin, Oregon. It will have an initial design capacity of up
to 1.5 billion cubic feet per day. Pending receipt of rights of way from the Bureau
of Land Management, construction of the $3 billion project is scheduled to begin in
late spring 2010, and it is scheduled to be in service in March 2011.
El Paso has entered into agreements with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP),
whereby GIP will invest up to $700 million in the Ruby project. Upon satisfaction of
various closing conditions, GIP will acquire a 50 percent equity interest in the
project.
El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe,
efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest
interstate natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest
independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit http://www.elpaso.com......
For entire news release go to :
http://investor.elpaso.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=97166&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1409655&highlight=
SOURCE: El Paso Corporation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upper Rogue Independent
http://www.urindependent.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2814:meeting-offers-latest-on-pipeline&catid=13:local&Itemid=35
Meeting offers latest on pipeline
Latest News
Monday, 05 April 2010 13:10
A meeting on March 30 at the Medford main library opposing the proposed 235-mile
Liquefied Natural Gas Pipeline was well attended by residents of the Upper Rogue,
including Bob and Gail Barker from Shady Cove. Their property will be the site for
horizontal directional drilling under the Rogue River and Barker told the audience
what it is like to live with the threat of the pipeline and possible eminent domain
hanging over their heads.
The meeting organized by Rogue Riverkeeper, Rogue Group Sierra Club and Friends of
Living Oregon Waters updated the crowd on where opponents of the 36-inch pipeline
are legally, environmental impacts and what can be done to stop the pipeline. The
speakers painted an ominous picture of impacts to fish, waterways, watersheds and
the economy if the pipeline is constructed by Pacific Connector and Williams
Pipeline Companies.
The pipeline that will carry one billion cubic feet of gas with 1,440 pounds of
pressure per square inch daily to California was approved by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission in December 2009. Not pleased with the decision, opponents and
the State of Oregon requested a rehearing. Lesley Adams, one of 200 Riverkeepers in
the world, explained "A rehearing is legal jargon for- we don't like your decision
and you had better reconsider or we will file a lawsuit." The petition was filed in
January and so far there is no decision from FERC on the rehearing which puts the
potential lawsuit on hold.
The project if completed, said Adams, would impact Coos Bay and the Coquille,
Umpqua, Rogue and Klamath Basins. It would cross 379 rivers and streams; require
clear-cutting of 270 acres of remaining old growth forests on public lands; and
locally cross 19 fifth-field watersheds including Rogue River/Shady Cove, Big Butte
and Little Butte Creeks in the Rogue Basin.
Eleven public drinking water source areas, including the watersheds serving the
Medford Water Commission and private wells would be crossed by the pipeline, added
Adams. With low rainfall and shortages of water, a concern is the 58-million gallons
of water needed for hydrostatic testing of the pipeline. Where will the water come
from and where will the water, now possibly contaminated, be released?
The Upper Rogue and its tributaries are home to anadromous fish species including
Coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead and Pacific lamprey. Five streams in the Rogue
Basin are already listed as water quality impaired on the Clean Water Act 303(d).
The affected streams are West Fork Trail Creek, Lick Creek, Salt Creek, North and
South Forks of Little Butte Creek, said Adams. The process could warm the water,
creating unhealthy conditions for spawning beds of fish.
Also of concern is the proposed drilling under the Rogue River for 3,000 feet of
pipeline that would be pulled through the opening. Fraq-outs (leaks) of the
lubricant, Bentonite Clay, could pollute the river and endanger already meager runs
of salmon and other wildlife. This in turn would not only affect the environment but
possibly tourism and the local economy. If drilling under the river is unsuccessful,
after the third try, an open wet cut would be implemented to get the pipeline
across, said speaker and affected landowner, Barker, whose property is the drilling
site.
About 80 miles of the pipeline would cross public lands and 150 miles would cross
private land. Barker asked rhetorically, "Why should we suffer the environmental
damage from the pipeline that is primarily serving California?" Oregon would receive
less than one percent of the gas and Barker pointed out the United States has over
100-years of natural gas supplies.
With the abundance of natural gas in our own country and Canada, opponents such as
Adams are concerned the pipeline could be used to export gas overseas. What was
considered paranoia a few years ago is today garnering a second look.
Barker talked about his two-acres that are forested with oak, pine and cedar trees.
A ninety foot swath of denuded land would hugely impact the property he bought in
2004. It would not grow back in his lifetime, he reflected. And the luck of the draw
put him in the east side of the river-the drill side.
Barker knows if he does not agree to sell the land, it will be taken by eminent
domain because FERC turns the power over to the pipeline companies. "At the end of
the day, there is no choice," said a resigned Barker.
Can the LNG pipeline be stopped? Dan Serres of FLOW told the audience their voice
matters and the louder they become, the less likely southern Oregon is to become the
weak spot on the West Coast. Pipeline companies have scouted Oregon, California,
Washington, Canada and Mexico looking for a spot to shunt this gas into the
California market. Oregon should not be the place of least resistance," he
emphasized.
Offering a practical solution, Serres said the Department of State Lands is
reviewing applications of leases on state lands for both the terminal and the
pipeline. He urged those present to immediately contact the parties that have the
power to stop the pipeline. Write and call Governor Kulongski, Michael Carrier the
Governor's Natural Resources Policy Director and Louise Solliday, DSL Director.
Oregon has all the power it needs to stop these projects. With the pipeline crossing
the Rogue River and violating the Clean Water Act, "It's a no brainer. We need to
give the agencies the backbone to do the right thing," Serres stressed...........
Contact information for the governor is (503)378-4582 or on website (Oregon.gov).
Michael Carrier is (503)986-6525 or Michael.carrier [at] state.or.us This e-mail
address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;
Louise Solliday (503)986-5224 or louise.c.solliday [at] state.or.us
By Margaret Bradburn
Of the Independent
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The following news story below was not put on-line, so there is no web link.
The World Newspaper
Business Secton C - 1
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
As The World turns
Bay Watch - by Nate Traylor
Hamner will be Port spokeswoman
More than 20 people applied to be the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay's
manager of communications and community affairs. Port officials interviewed four.
Guess who got the job.
Our own Assistant Editor Elise Hamner.
The World's loss, The port's gain.
"We're very pleased to have Elise join us," said spokesman Martin Callery, whom
Hamner will report to when she begins on April 19. "She brings a lot of community
knowledge and media background."
Callery is the current director of communications and freight mobility . Bringing
Hamner on board, he said, will free him up to focus more on transportation and
infrastructure projects.
Publisher/ Editor Clark Walworth is lining up interviews for Hamner's replacement.
"Elise had been a key part of our organization, and we're going to miss her."
Walworth said in a prepared statement. "The port is luck to get her. We hope to
announce her successor soon."
April 14 will be Hamner's last day at the World, a newspaper she has served for 15
years.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.naturaloregon.org/2010/04/06/ferc-announces-meetings-to-hear-oregon-lng-complaints/
FERC Announces Meetings To Hear Oregon LNG Complaints
April 6, 2010
By Dennis Newman
An LNG protest sign from FERC's December 2009 field trip in Washington County.
FERC is following through on promises to investigate landowner complaints against
Oregon LNG.
The agency has scheduled three public meetings in Oregon this month to give
landowners a chance to speak out, and the company a chance to defend itself.
It's unusual for FERC to investigate these kinds of complaints and to hold meetings.
If nothing else, it shows how much anger there is about the project among landowners
in Western Oregon.
The complaints started pouring into FERC after a field trip by agency and company
officials in December of last year. The officials spent two days visiting sites
along Oregon LNG's proposed 120-mile pipeline.
But instead of resolving conflicts, the tour may have only made things worse.
Some of the landowners say Oregon LNG officials collected GPS data during the visit,
a violation of agreements that allowed them on the properties. Other complaints
include last minute changes to maps and documents about the pipeline. The landowners
say they didn't know about the changes until after officials were gone- depriving
them of the chance to study the updates ahead of time and talk about them during the
field trip.
After FERC announced it would hold the meetings, Oregon LNG tried to convince the
agency to cancel them. It says it will attend the meetings under protest.
Here's the meeting schedule:
Tuesday, April 20
10:00am
Forest Grove Community Auditorium, 1915 Main St., Forest Grove
Wednesday, April 21
1:00pm
Clatsop County Courthouse, Judge Guy Boyington Building, 820 Exchange St., Astoria
Thursday, April 22
9:00am
Portland City Hall, Chamber Room, 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: I have received several e-mails lately about a pipeline accident and
explosion that has various titles such as; "Call before you dig"; "The Farmer and
His Post Hole Digger"; etc. The e-mail story is of course fabricated at the hand of
someone who would prefer that the truth about the accident not be known. The e-mail
insinuates that someone was out in the middle of a field digging a post hole and hit
a gas pipeline. The e-mail story insinuates that the person died and they never
found the body. This is not true. The accident did not happen because someone was
digging a post hole, it happened because the pipe was old and corroded and even
though it had just been inspected by the Williams Pipeline Company, they did not
catch how bad the condition of the pipe was. Yes, this is the same Williams
Pipeline Company that is in charge of the Pacific Connector Pipeline. I do not know
who is putting out the misinformation. And where are they getting they never found
a body ??? Of course they never found a body.......because one never existed!
See several news articles below on the accident. I have provided a link below where
you can go and see the same photos that have been circulating...............
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Must see photos of the Pipeline Explosion in Appomattox, VA :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14109575@N03/sets/72157607364744788/
Appomattox County Sheriff Wilson Staples said a Transco gas pipeline ruptured along
state Route 26 just north of the town of Appomattox at 7:47 a.m. The rupture gave
some residents just enough time to get out of their homes before an explosion
consumed two houses. (Sunday, Sep 14, 2008)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspectors to dig into Appomattox pipeline
http://www.newsadvance.com:80/lna/news/local/article/inspectors_to_dig_into_appomattox_pipeline/15069/
By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: April 9, 2009
Portions of a natural gas pipeline that run parallel to one that exploded in
Appomattox last fall will be unearthed and inspected in the coming weeks.
Williams Gas Co. will begin digging up about 12 places along the line for inspection
in hopes of bringing the line back up to full pressure, said Chris Stockton,
spokesman for the company. This line, called the C line, is one of three that run
side by side through Appomattox County carrying natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico
to New York.
The pressure on the C line had been reduced from its normal level of 800 pounds per
square inch to 640 psi after the explosion of its neighboring line on Sept. 14,
2008.
The natural gas it released blew into a fireball that scorched an area 1,125 feet in
diameter, according to preliminary findings in the federal investigation. Five area
residents were injured and two houses were leveled and several others damaged in the
blast.
Pressure was restored on the line that exploded, the B line, in December and on the
other line, the A line, the month before.
"We are bringing in equipment and preparing to mobilize for our C line inspections,
which will likely begin next week," Stockton said.
The inspection process should last about three weeks, he said.
"The inspections involve excavating certain areas of pipe and visually inspecting
the pipe's protective coating," he said. "If a section of pipe needs to be replaced,
then we will cut it out and replace it. There are about a dozen identified areas
where we will be performing these inspections across the county."
Once this process is complete, Williams will request approval from the U.S.
Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration to fully restore pressure to the line.
About 2,500 feet of the B line was replaced following the explosion.
The investigation into the failure revealed that the more than 50-year-old pipe was
corroding from the outside, and that thinning wasn't fully revealed by the tools
used to examine the pipes.
The natural gas pipelines that run through Appomattox are part of the Transco line,
which extends from the Gulf of Mexico to New York, including 858 miles in Virginia.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrosion caused Appomattox pipeline rupture
http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/corrosion_caused_appomattox_pipeline_rupture/11591/
By Carrie J. Sidener
Published: December 15, 2008
APPOMATTOX - Outside corrosion caused the rupture and subsequent explosion in
September of a natural gas pipeline just north of the town of Appomattox.
The analysis of Williams Gas Company's pipeline showed that the thinning wasn't
fully captured by the tools used to examine the pipes in service, said John
Batchelder, a pipeline integrity expert with the company.
"In the life of this pipeline, the coating became compromised," he said. "The rocks
in this ditch make it very difficult to protect this area."
The in-line inspection tool, run on the pipeline earlier this year, showed that the
pipe, as it crossed Virginia 26 just north of the town, showed some corrosion, but
not enough to mark it for immediate repair. Its neighboring two pipelines had
repairs in the same area recently.
"The initial results did not identify the corrosion as being as deep as it was,"
Batchelder said. "This area has a unique signature of corrosion. It stretched the
limits of the technology. We will take the learning we get from this and we will
apply it throughout the industry."
The new information into the cause of the explosion came days after the company
applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration to reinstate the line.
Larry Hjalmarson, vice president of operations, said if Williams' application to run
gas again in that line is approved, the company will start flowing gas at 640 pounds
per square inch - 20 percent less than its capacity of 800 psi. It will run at that
pressure through the winter before the company returns to PHMSA for approval to
increase it to 800 psi.
Last month, Williams brought the A line back into full service and hopes to increase
the pressure on the C line next spring.
About 2,500 feet of the B line's pipe has been replaced since it exploded, said Rob
Shoaf, pipeline integrity team leader with Williams. About 65 miles of pipe were
inspected and some 49 sites along that span were excavated. The pipe was pressure
tested with water earlier this month at 1,000 psi, the standard for new pipelines,
Shoaf said.
"We feel very confident that this pipeline is safe and ready to return to service,"
Shoaf said.
Hjalmarson said the earliest that Williams will receive approval to reinstate the B
line will be Friday.
That pipeline failed just before 8 a.m. on Sept. 14. The natural gas it released
blew into a fireball that scorched an area 1,125 feet in diameter, leveled two homes
and injured five people, according to preliminary findings in the federal
investigation. Some 100 homes were damaged in the blast, according to Hjalmarson."
more info & map found @;
http://kswild.org/programs/rogue-riverkeeper/no-lng-in-oregon
Another important detail overlooked by FERC was the recent earthquake in Wells, NV, less than twenty miles from the proposed Ruby Pipeline site;
"A Magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred near Wells, Nevada, on Thursday February 21, 2008, at 6:16 AM PST. The preliminary event location determined by the Nevada Seismological Laboratory is - Latitude: 41.1525N; Longitude: 114.8669W; Depth 6.7 km (4.2 miles). This location is approximately 6 miles (9 km) northeast of Wells. There are reports of significant damage. At this time the earthquake was apparently not associated with a previously mapped fault.
The mechanism of the main shock is “normal faulting”, which is the type of faulting that occurs typically in Nevada and other places where the crust of the earth is extending.
As of 5:00 PM on Feb 21, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory had located eleven aftershocks with magnitude of 4.0 or larger (listed below), and 35 with magnitude 3.0 or larger. The largest of these occurred at 3:57 PM Pacific Standard Time, and had a magnitude of 4.8. The majority of the aftershocks are located southwest of the epicenter of the main shock, and therefore closer to central Wells than the main shock.
Numerous aftershocks can be expected following an earthquake of this size and the local area should be prepared for additional felt earthquakes and potentially damaging earthquake ground motions. Following any moderate sized earthquake, there is a small increase in the probability of a larger earthquake in the local area.
The earthquake was felt throughout northeastern Nevada, southern Idaho, and western Utah."
The data reported here has been reviewed. For more information, contact the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, (775) 784-4975.
earthquake data found @;
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/feature/2008/wells.html
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Some additional resources from people living along the proposed pipeline's route;
RUBY PIPELINE UPDATE:
NEWEST: DID FERC COMMISSIONERS MAKE A MINOR OR MATERIAL ERROR IN THEIR APRIL 5, 2010 DECISION? Summit Lake Paiute Council Warner Barlese joins others in asking BLM to consider the April 5, 2010 misstatement of the FERC Commissioners that "on March 5, 2010 [U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service] determined that the greater sage-grouse did not warrant Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection" (Decision at page 21, paragraph 56) as reason to do another EIS and not issue the Record of Decision (ROD) and Right-Of-Way (ROW). To view Chairman Warner Barlese's newest comment to BLM to protect an important resource and traditional food of all Indians in the region, click here. To read what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service actually said on March 5, 2010, click here. Posted 04.06.10
NEW: FERC COMMISSIONERS ISSUE CERTIFICATE TO RUBY FOR THE PROPOSED ROUTE. While BLM must still issue its ROD (Record of Decision) and ROW (Right-Of-Way) before Ruby can start construction, including in the short strip of land between the Summit Lake Reservation and Sheldon Refuge, on Monday, April 5, 2010, the Commissioners of FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) issued a 52 page Order granting Ruby Pipeline a Certificate of Necessity and Convenience. The Summit Lake Paiute Council thanks all those mentioned in the FERC Order who tried to prevent this project from polluting important resources of a number of Tribes, and protect cultural resources from "mitigation." For the 8-page email tribal version of the important parts of the 52 page Order, click here. For the full 52 page Order, see the link at the bottom of the 8-page email. Posted 04.06.10
NEW: Submitted before the deadline. Summit Lake Paiute Council Chairman Warner Barlese, as authorized by the Council on March 20, 2010, filed his Comments about the great pollution the Ruby Pipeline Project would cause the Summit Lake Reservation and the traditional territory shared among a number of Ruby Pipeline affected Tribes with both the Bureau of Land Management relative to BLM issuing a Record of Decision (ROD) and with FERC on the Final EIS. To read Chairman Warner Barlese's concerns about the pollution the Ruby Pipeline Project would cause, click here. To read Chairman Warner Barlese concerns about destruction to cultural resources, click here. Posted 04.01.10
above text found here;
http://www.summitlaketribe.org/
Letter from Paiute Council Chair Barlese to BLM;
"Dear Mr. Mackiewicz,
On behalf of the Summit Lake Paiute Council, governing body of the federally recognized Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, and a Ruby Pipeline affected Tribe, I submit this Comment on the FERC Final EIS on the Ruby Pipeline Project, FERC Docket CP0954-000 as instructed in the
Cover Letter to the Final EIS at page 3, and by your letter, extending the Comment period to today.
A copy of this email will be electronically filed with FERC.
The Summit Lake Paiute Council (Council) represents and speaks for 120 members of the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe.
Please enter these additional comments of the Summit Lake Paiute Council into the BLM Record of Decision and Right of Way Record.
We viewed the FERC Issuance of the Certificate of Necessity and Convenience yesterday with great disappointment. On April 5, 2010, the FERC Commissioners basically told Nevada Tribes, in effect, like in yesteryear, "don't worry the Great White Father will protect you and what is sacred to you." FERC Commissioners also played off of Nevada Tribes the cooperation and support of Council of Energy Resource Tribes member Tribes--the latter never explicitly discussed in any of their comments the differences between the Proposed Route over the Black Rock Route or the Highway 140 (Sheldon) Route.
Much of the process is not yet even complete. Intense ESA, biological, cultural, wild lands, and other conflicts need to be resolved. As this Tribe learned at the El Paso Corporation sponsored 3rd Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, February 18-19, 2010, more intensive studies, like ground penetrating radar, have been used on the western side of the pipeline construction route to locate remains of Northern Paiute ancestors and others. I do not see that FERC has had Ruby review the records of the U.S. Army during its occupation of Camp McGerry or any other U.S. Army Fort or Camp along the pipeline construction route to see
where the U.S. Army reported killing Northern Paiutes and others, where they are buried or whether they were left where they fell. BLM should require identical studies and additional record searches before it issues its ROD or ROW.
While the Summit Lake Paiute Council was told by FERC staff that additional miles alone would not be a cause to reject one route over another, the length of miles between alternatives was, in fact, a major reason for FERC's decision. BLM should reject that reasoning.
FERC appears to have no understanding of sage-grouse, biological issues and threats to species.
The FERC April 5, 2010 Ruby Decision states:
As described in the EIS, the greater sage-grouse is a sensitive small game species in the project area that was classified as a candidate for federal protection at the time of Commission staff's environmental review. However, on March 5, 2010, FWS determined that the greater sage-grouse did not warrant Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection.
FERC Decision, dated April 5, 2010, at page 21, paragraph 56.
FERC has not addressed the fact that the Interior Department in March 2010 found that sagegrouse do indeed Warrant Listing under the ESA. The status of sage-grouse throughout the EIS process is also incorrectly stated.
In the EIS and Certificate, there is no acknowledgement of the seriousness of the plight of sage-grouse habitats and small beleaguered populations that will be ripped apart by the illsited Ruby Proposed Route.
It will clearly violate BLM Conservation Policy for Sage-Grouse not to fully integrate this new Warranted but Precluded information into EIS analysis. Agencies must fully examine the current status of sage-grouse habitats and populations in the path of Ruby in a habitat,
landscape and population conservation context.
The Summit Lake Paiute Council agrees with other comments that an SEIS is needed to address the myriad outstanding wildlife, migratory bird, golden eagle, aquatic species and other rare biota impacts. It is necessary for understanding and fully mitigating the severe effects of massive road construction and road use, the full battery of noise, visual and other
disturbances on the Summit Lake Reservation, its members and Reservation residents, the huge number of unresolved cultural issues and conflicts, the evaluation of impacts on tribal members subsistence hunting, conducting spiritual ceremonies, etc...
For example, we understand that a separate EA and Transportation Plan may be in the works for just the Sheldon NWR. If that is the case BLM will need several EISs before it can issue or deny any Right-of-Way.
To save Northern Paiute People from being victimized by the federal government again, as they were in the 1800s, BLM must find that the current EIS is inadequate. It is BLM's duty to manage the public lands, which includes many Northern Paiute Nation Tribes' traditional
territory (see Except and Map of Omer C. Stewart, Newsletter/Research Page, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe web site (http://www.summitlaketribe.org)) to prevent undue degradation, and to ensure that NEPA is fully upheld. In the case of this Ruby process, BLM cannot rely on the EIS and information to date."
Sincerely,
Warner Barlese
________________________
Warner Barlese, Chairman
Summit Lake Paiute Council
SUMMIT LAKE PAIUTE TRIBE
1708 H Street
Sparks, NV 894312
(775) 827-9670
additional resources;
http://www.rubypipeline.com/
http://nevada.sierraclub.org/conservation/articles/SierraClub-FERC-Comments.pdf
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2009/06-19-09.asp
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2010/01-08-10.asp
http://www.nevadawilderness.org/items/enews/10_0211_eAlert_RubyPipeline.html
http://www.summitlaketribe.org/
http://www.blackrockdesert.org/friends/ruby-pipeline-project
RUBY PIPELINE UPDATE:
NEWEST: DID FERC COMMISSIONERS MAKE A MINOR OR MATERIAL ERROR IN THEIR APRIL 5, 2010 DECISION? Summit Lake Paiute Council Warner Barlese joins others in asking BLM to consider the April 5, 2010 misstatement of the FERC Commissioners that "on March 5, 2010 [U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service] determined that the greater sage-grouse did not warrant Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection" (Decision at page 21, paragraph 56) as reason to do another EIS and not issue the Record of Decision (ROD) and Right-Of-Way (ROW). To view Chairman Warner Barlese's newest comment to BLM to protect an important resource and traditional food of all Indians in the region, click here. To read what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service actually said on March 5, 2010, click here. Posted 04.06.10
NEW: FERC COMMISSIONERS ISSUE CERTIFICATE TO RUBY FOR THE PROPOSED ROUTE. While BLM must still issue its ROD (Record of Decision) and ROW (Right-Of-Way) before Ruby can start construction, including in the short strip of land between the Summit Lake Reservation and Sheldon Refuge, on Monday, April 5, 2010, the Commissioners of FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) issued a 52 page Order granting Ruby Pipeline a Certificate of Necessity and Convenience. The Summit Lake Paiute Council thanks all those mentioned in the FERC Order who tried to prevent this project from polluting important resources of a number of Tribes, and protect cultural resources from "mitigation." For the 8-page email tribal version of the important parts of the 52 page Order, click here. For the full 52 page Order, see the link at the bottom of the 8-page email. Posted 04.06.10
NEW: Submitted before the deadline. Summit Lake Paiute Council Chairman Warner Barlese, as authorized by the Council on March 20, 2010, filed his Comments about the great pollution the Ruby Pipeline Project would cause the Summit Lake Reservation and the traditional territory shared among a number of Ruby Pipeline affected Tribes with both the Bureau of Land Management relative to BLM issuing a Record of Decision (ROD) and with FERC on the Final EIS. To read Chairman Warner Barlese's concerns about the pollution the Ruby Pipeline Project would cause, click here. To read Chairman Warner Barlese concerns about destruction to cultural resources, click here. Posted 04.01.10
above text found here;
http://www.summitlaketribe.org/
Letter from Paiute Council Chair Barlese to BLM;
"Dear Mr. Mackiewicz,
On behalf of the Summit Lake Paiute Council, governing body of the federally recognized Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, and a Ruby Pipeline affected Tribe, I submit this Comment on the FERC Final EIS on the Ruby Pipeline Project, FERC Docket CP0954-000 as instructed in the
Cover Letter to the Final EIS at page 3, and by your letter, extending the Comment period to today.
A copy of this email will be electronically filed with FERC.
The Summit Lake Paiute Council (Council) represents and speaks for 120 members of the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe.
Please enter these additional comments of the Summit Lake Paiute Council into the BLM Record of Decision and Right of Way Record.
We viewed the FERC Issuance of the Certificate of Necessity and Convenience yesterday with great disappointment. On April 5, 2010, the FERC Commissioners basically told Nevada Tribes, in effect, like in yesteryear, "don't worry the Great White Father will protect you and what is sacred to you." FERC Commissioners also played off of Nevada Tribes the cooperation and support of Council of Energy Resource Tribes member Tribes--the latter never explicitly discussed in any of their comments the differences between the Proposed Route over the Black Rock Route or the Highway 140 (Sheldon) Route.
Much of the process is not yet even complete. Intense ESA, biological, cultural, wild lands, and other conflicts need to be resolved. As this Tribe learned at the El Paso Corporation sponsored 3rd Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, February 18-19, 2010, more intensive studies, like ground penetrating radar, have been used on the western side of the pipeline construction route to locate remains of Northern Paiute ancestors and others. I do not see that FERC has had Ruby review the records of the U.S. Army during its occupation of Camp McGerry or any other U.S. Army Fort or Camp along the pipeline construction route to see
where the U.S. Army reported killing Northern Paiutes and others, where they are buried or whether they were left where they fell. BLM should require identical studies and additional record searches before it issues its ROD or ROW.
While the Summit Lake Paiute Council was told by FERC staff that additional miles alone would not be a cause to reject one route over another, the length of miles between alternatives was, in fact, a major reason for FERC's decision. BLM should reject that reasoning.
FERC appears to have no understanding of sage-grouse, biological issues and threats to species.
The FERC April 5, 2010 Ruby Decision states:
As described in the EIS, the greater sage-grouse is a sensitive small game species in the project area that was classified as a candidate for federal protection at the time of Commission staff's environmental review. However, on March 5, 2010, FWS determined that the greater sage-grouse did not warrant Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection.
FERC Decision, dated April 5, 2010, at page 21, paragraph 56.
FERC has not addressed the fact that the Interior Department in March 2010 found that sagegrouse do indeed Warrant Listing under the ESA. The status of sage-grouse throughout the EIS process is also incorrectly stated.
In the EIS and Certificate, there is no acknowledgement of the seriousness of the plight of sage-grouse habitats and small beleaguered populations that will be ripped apart by the illsited Ruby Proposed Route.
It will clearly violate BLM Conservation Policy for Sage-Grouse not to fully integrate this new Warranted but Precluded information into EIS analysis. Agencies must fully examine the current status of sage-grouse habitats and populations in the path of Ruby in a habitat,
landscape and population conservation context.
The Summit Lake Paiute Council agrees with other comments that an SEIS is needed to address the myriad outstanding wildlife, migratory bird, golden eagle, aquatic species and other rare biota impacts. It is necessary for understanding and fully mitigating the severe effects of massive road construction and road use, the full battery of noise, visual and other
disturbances on the Summit Lake Reservation, its members and Reservation residents, the huge number of unresolved cultural issues and conflicts, the evaluation of impacts on tribal members subsistence hunting, conducting spiritual ceremonies, etc...
For example, we understand that a separate EA and Transportation Plan may be in the works for just the Sheldon NWR. If that is the case BLM will need several EISs before it can issue or deny any Right-of-Way.
To save Northern Paiute People from being victimized by the federal government again, as they were in the 1800s, BLM must find that the current EIS is inadequate. It is BLM's duty to manage the public lands, which includes many Northern Paiute Nation Tribes' traditional
territory (see Except and Map of Omer C. Stewart, Newsletter/Research Page, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe web site (http://www.summitlaketribe.org)) to prevent undue degradation, and to ensure that NEPA is fully upheld. In the case of this Ruby process, BLM cannot rely on the EIS and information to date."
Sincerely,
Warner Barlese
________________________
Warner Barlese, Chairman
Summit Lake Paiute Council
SUMMIT LAKE PAIUTE TRIBE
1708 H Street
Sparks, NV 894312
(775) 827-9670
additional resources;
http://www.rubypipeline.com/
http://nevada.sierraclub.org/conservation/articles/SierraClub-FERC-Comments.pdf
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2009/06-19-09.asp
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2010/01-08-10.asp
http://www.nevadawilderness.org/items/enews/10_0211_eAlert_RubyPipeline.html
http://www.summitlaketribe.org/
http://www.blackrockdesert.org/friends/ruby-pipeline-project
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