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Updated Questions for Spectra
Posted
- Why is Spectra restricting the residents of Rehoboth to a list of pre-sent questions (to be cherry picked by them)- rather than allowing for an open forum/dialogue in real time, where our residents can receive answers to their questions?
- Since the Attorney General office’s study (2015) has determined more gas infra structure is not needed to keep the lights on, why is Spectra pursuing a project to add more gas for electricity for our region?
- How can Spectra Energy expect us to believe we are in danger of a shortfall of gas supplies in our region (and position their Access Northeast pipeline expansion as the fix) while our three existing LNG import terminals in Massachusetts lie virtually idle?
- Why would a company such as Engie Gas & LNG LLC (a leading European importer of LNG to the Everett terminal in MA) have the remotest interest in fighting the pipeline tax in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court? Isn’t it either a concern over future competition with the US for clients in the world market, or a response to Spectra’s plan to insure domestic gas supplies trump imported gas, or both?
- What are the alternate sites for the Rehoboth compressor station and what are the top 5 alternative sites for an LNG plant/ storage facility besides Acushnet, Somerset, and Burrillville, RI?
- What is the status of the Resource Report that was already due and supposed to be sent? Why the delay?
- In Feb 2016 the US Department of Energy approved pipeline exports of domestic gas to LNG ports in Canada for export also we know Spectra’s Atlantic Bridge reverses the flow of gas on the Maritimes and Northeast pipeline which allows gas to flow from the United States into Canada. What percentage of the gas flowing through our region will be for export?
- We understand how getting Spectra’s fracked gas from the PA Marcellus Shale to export directly benefits Spectra and its shareholders, but how will hosting the compressor station benefit our town and those who live near it? Will we (who will be burdened by the new gas infrastructure) be immune to price increases if/ when the price of gas rises overseas?
- What kind of oversight is there in place to insure the pipeline infrastructure tying into the compressor station is sound and not leaking (currently an estimated 25 leaks in Seekonk 99 in Attleboro)? Will there be an updated inventory of leaky pipelines and will they be fixed prior to bringing the compressor station on line? And how will those leaks be affected by increased pressure on the new pipeline?
- What is the estimated tax revenue Rehoboth can expect from hosting the compressor station, and has Rehoboth BOS been offered any additional incentives/ monies besides tax revenue?
- Will Seekonk or Attleboro be offered any sweeteners as they will also bear the negative impacts of the compressor station in our town?
- Industrial property taxes steadily decrease over time, while residential property increases. At what rate will the taxes Spectra pay be decreasing yearly?
- Homeowners within a one-three-mile radius surrounding the compressor station will see their property values drop. Will Spectra reimburse us for our lost property value? What recourse will homeowners have should their health and safety and property values become compromised?
- What funds would be set aside to mitigate against any harm brought to property or persons through an accident or otherwise by the proposed project? What guarantees would there be to prevent the companies in question to declare bankruptcies and avoid damages?
- What will be the estimated increase in our homeowner’s insurance rates for residents near the compressor station?
- Once the 10,320 HP compressor station on the 15-acre pad is installed ( and the remaining land is retained as buffer), what kind of assurances will be given that Spectra won’t come back for further expansion on the site as it has done elsewhere and install multiple compressors/ storage facilities and larger plants?
- Is the Rehoboth compressor station pivotal to both the Atlantic Bridge and the Access Northeast projects?
- Would Spectra be willing to sign an agreement with the town of Rehoboth limiting any further build out beyond the 15-acre pad into perpetuity?
- Rehoboth has a noise limit of 50 decibels. While the compressor emits noise 24/7, it doesn’t emit level sound. What is the noise level at a compressor station?
- We have seen conservative estimated ranges from 33- 100 decibels within ½ mile of a compressor site…how can you claim that the sound will not have a noticeable effect when 85 decibels can cause hearing damage?
- Since FERC has no jurisdiction over safety and security and since the department of Transportation has a record of inspecting only 7% of the nation’s pipelines, PHMSA largely depends upon Spectra to monitor themselves. Who is in charge of safety, compliance in design and construction of your pipelines? Isn’t it a bit like the fox is designing and building the hen house?
- If the typical venting process (or blowdown) lasts 2-3 hours, what is the protocol for venting the compressor when there is a low cloud canopy? Will you follow our air quality laws that place restrictions on certain events on cloudy days?
- How will Algonquin/ Spectra test the integrity of the existing pipelines which are 40-60 years old? What kind of studies /tests have you completed about the safety of hooking up a gas compressor at much higher volumes of gas under high pressure to old, smaller, leaky pipeline infrastructure such is the case in our town?
- Massachusetts ratepayers pay an estimated 2 billion dollars per year for lost gas through the leaky Algonquin pipeline. How much does that translate to per household? How much more will we pay with 35% more volumes of gas in the pipeline?
- Will all new pipeline infrastructure be leak free? Aren’t zero leak facilities now a FERC requirement? If not what is the design leak range in cubic feet per day?
- Will the Rehoboth compressor station be leak free? Is FERC entitled to approve new natural gas facilities that negatively impact resident’s health and safety and burden the state with GHG emissions over which it cannot exercise control?
- How many gas line leaks nationwide have been dangerous enough to force resident evacuations this year and what is the feasibility of repairing ALL of the estimated 20,000 documented gas leaks in MA?
- Once the Rehoboth compressor goes online, what will be the resulting pressure and capacity in the existing pipeline? What studies have been done to insure the aged Algonquin can withstand the added pressure from 35% more gas reserves being forced through its pipes?
- Will this facility be subject to the EPA’s new methane emission rules? Will the power plants fed by expanded pipeline infrastructure be also subject to said rules? (www3.epa.gov/airquality/oil/gas)
- As the proposed compressor station is located in a residential neighborhood and close to schools, churches, and public recreation spaces, shouldn’t Spectra be required to produce and pay for an independent third party environmental and health impact study?
- Is Spectra willing to sign agreements with Providence, Acushnet/Somerset that the LNG storage tanks proposed for those sites will never be used for export in the future?
- What is the temperature range of the pipeline? How will that vary from corresponding ground temperature? What effect will this have on wildlife and plants/trees nearby?
- Does the pipeline in our area follow electric transmission lines? Doesn’t the electromagnetic field accelerate corrosion in the pipeline? Is Round-Up a component for above ground maintenance once the pipeline is installed?
- Where is the closest metering station capable of halting the flow of gas, and what is the estimated response time to shut off the gas once an incident/accident/ explosion at the compressor station occurs? Are the shut off valves manually or remotely controlled?
- We have been led to believe that our volunteer firefighters are well- trained should an accident occur at a compressor station. But isn’t it true there is nothing that our volunteer fire company can do to respond to an accident until AFTER the gas is shut down? How long does it take to burn out the gas left in the line once it is shut off?
- Would the compressor itself be gas fired or electric fired. If it is slated to be gas fired why have you chosen, the nosier and more polluting version?
- What is the estimated cost in energy to store gas in it’s liquid (@ -260 degrees) form yearly in just one of the 18 1/2 story tanks in Acushnet?
- If residents within a 3- mile radius begin to exhibit negative health impacts resulting from chemical exposures to the compressor what is Spectra as a company prepared to do about it?
- Will Rehoboth be given a scoping hearing (as requested by our BOS)? If so, when?
- If the proposed expanded pipeline supplies between 80- 90% of NE power generation, and with Acushnet/ Somerset/ Burrillville hosting the largest LNG tanks on the east coast, doesn’t this increase our attractiveness to terrorists?
- What kind of structural shape does Spectra estimate the Algonguin be in in 20 years (when it would be nearly a century old?) What would be the feasibility/cost of rebuilding the Algonguin in 20 years?
- What will be the major access route (44 &118? or 152?) Spectra plans to take for construction of the compressor station? And Is Spectra responsible for wear and tear and road damages owing to the trucks traversing out town roads?
- If there was a “significant incident’” at our compressor station, is Spectra completely liable for damages to residents’ homes and properties?
- How safe are our wells if there were to be an accident such as the one in Salem, PA along the pipeline or at the compressor station?
- Rehoboth is a” Right to Farm community”. Wouldn’t our organic farms in Rehoboth lose their “organic” status as the chemicals from blowdowns and constant gas leaks fall to the ground and affect our soil?
- What is your plan for endangered species plant/wildlife that would be impacted by the proposed compressor site?
- Our gas is coming from the Marcellus shale and PA which is one of the 5 highest yielding wet gas states in the US. Since wet gas is 85% Methane and has higher percentages of LNG’s such as ethane and butane how are we to believe our compressor station would be venting a benign “vapor” and that the gas is “clean” when it is vented into the atmosphere?
- If the gas entering our compressor station is already clean, then why would our station include “scrubbers” that are designed to further clean the gas as it as it travels toward its final destination? And what happens to the residue that is extracted from the gas by scrubbers at the compressor site?
- Will you agree to answer all of the questions above should we run out of time and address your responses to our BOS in writing after the scheduled meeting?
- Are there any fire suppression systems on the facility premises? If so, what?
- What is Spectra’s emergency plan, who will initiate this plan? What kind of training does Spectra personnel have to respond?
- What type of training has our fire department done in the event of a large explosion/fire/hazardous waste cleanup?
- What medium (fluid) are they using to cool down the machinery, where is this fluid coming from and what plans do they have for any spillage?
- What provisions will be made to provide adequate security against terrorist/vandal attacks at the compressor station?
- How often are pipe interiors cleaned and inspected with traveling “smart pigs” that are outfitted to weld test and what type of weld test is performed?
- What is the schedule for above ground maintenance and clearing along pipeline route?
- Will there be well water testing within a 400’ radius of the compressor site and a schedule of water testing to determine if there are any changes over time?
- With the nation and our state moving towards alternative heating sources (solar, wind etc.), where is the justification to bare the expense and destruction of our neighborhoods to build/enlarge a fossil fuel pipeline expansion?
- The site (substation) on New St. in Rehoboth is on a heavily traveled road that leads to the high school. This station has increased in size over the years. Are there plans in place to increase it further?
- What will be the increased risk of leaks/explosions/fires at the New St. substation?
- Has a study regarding fresh water consumption by the compressor station been done? Wells can be affected. We are currently experiencing a drought in our area, what will happen to wells when the compressor site is using excessive amounts of water?
- How much water does a 10,320 HP compressor station use GPM (gallons per minute) per day?
- Where will the water be coming from? Will you be digging a well on site? If so, How deep? If not, where will you be getting the water from?
- Will the compressor station use an open or closed loop cooling system?
- If the cooling system is an open loop, is it being processed through a chiller? What is the plan to remove bacteria and mold to prevent Legionnaires disease?
- Will the compressor require the use of any petroleum products? If so what type? And will there be any heat exchangers to cool the oil?
- What plans are in place for any spillage at the compressor site?
- What medium (fluid) are they using to cool down the process machinery and/or any other processes?
- Is Spectra required to do a safe yield study to determine what percentage of water their compressor station will use of the existing Rehoboth water supplies?
- Has a study been conducted to determine what the existing water supplies are in Rehoboth?
- Will the compressor station be using a sewage system for the wastewater used from cooling the gas or for discharge from scrubbers that take impurities/chemicals/solids out of the gas at the site?
- Won’t an industrial plant such as the compressor station threaten our town’s water resources, and shouldn’t we have a third party study on the impacts to our drinking water supply?
- How could any adverse impacts to our water supply be mitigated once it is accessed by a gas compressor station?
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