Thanks to our friends at Sustainable Medina County we have a lot of info to share about the Nexus Pipeline. 
The photographs below show the proposed location of the NEXUS pipeline compressor station (black dot) and each circle surrounding it represents one mile (1-5 miles). Over half the City of Wadsworth is downwind from the compressor station and within the 5 mile radius. Also the compressor station will have blowdowns every 32 hours (releases pressure from the pipeline and releases toxins into the air - toxins such as benzene, toluene, radon, formaldehyde, etc. in amounts that will exceed Ohio EPA limits. The Ohio EPA will never test the air, instead they will let the company self report. No odor additive will be added to the gas so no one will smell a leak, etc.  Each circle represents a one mile radius.

You can get much more information at
sustainablemecinacounty.org and NoNexus.org
​

Our friends at Sustainable Medina County have shared important information with us; we publish it below. It's a long and very informative read. Contact sustainablemedinacounty if you'd like to discuss this topic or other issues affecting Medina County's environment.



Release Date:  Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Contact: Clifford Rowley (Member of Michigan Residents Against the ET Rover Pipeline)
Email: overwithrover@gmail.com.
Phone: (810) 516-7252
 

Rover Pipeline Opponents File Motion to Halt Construction, Citing Accidents and Route Changes
Formal complaint asks FERC to immediately suspend construction and re-open environmental review process
 
Today, grassroots citizens’ groups in Ohio and Michigan formally asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to revoke the construction permit for the ET Rover Pipeline, and to reopen the environmental analysis of its probable effects if completed. 
 
In a lengthy motion filed today with FERC, Michigan Residents Against the ET Rover Pipeline and the Ohio-based Fresh Water Accountability Project charge that the public is losing confidence that the Rover pipeline will be built safely and reliably. The motion cites a number of concerns, including recent massive spills of drilling lubricants and other violations by contractors building the pipeline; an unannounced rerouting of the pipeline closer to Silver Lake in Washtenaw County that would endanger hundreds of permanent and seasonal residents on its shores; and an unexplained switch of compressor-station engines.
 
The ET Rover pipeline project is owned by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, the same company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. 
 
If completed, the 42-inch-diameter Rover pipeline would carry 3.25 billion cubic feet of unscented, radioactive, hydraulically-fractured natural gas per day from shale formations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. In Michigan it would cross Lenawee, Washtenaw and Livingston counties before joining the Vector pipeline near Howell (Livingston County) in order to export the gas to the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada. 
 
The concerned residents who called for the motion have been engaged with the environmental review process since plans for the pipeline were first announced in 2014. Construction on the pipeline began in February after FERC issued the project a conditional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
 
Clifford Rowley, a Putnam Township resident and member of Michigan Residents Against the ET Rover Pipeline, noted that “We are calling for a careful, thorough reassessment of the impact to the public and the environment in granting the Certificate.  This is our best alternative to assure the safety of Michigan resources, Michigan homes, children at a Michigan camp, and Michigan families.”
 
If the motion is granted, construction on the pipeline would halt, allowing FERC and the public time to clarify the last-minute changes to Rover’s route that were made after the environmental review process closed in July 2016. Residents argue that FERC approved these changes based on false or misleading evidence that ET Rover provided to the agency. A re-opened environmental review process would allow regulators and members of the public to thoroughly consider the ramifications of the recently-altered route.
 
It would also give the agency time to consider recent events that residents argue show a pattern of disregard for the public trust on the company’s part. Residents say this pattern includes Energy Transfer’s carelessness that has brought 18 citations upon the company thus far in the Rover construction process; Rover’s spilling of over 2 million gallons of drilling fluid in Ohio wetlands and its indifferent response to these spills; Rover’s intentional destruction of a 173-year-old house eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places after having promised to protect it; Rover’s submission of false data in federal filings that misled regulators; and Rover’s reneging on stipulations imposed by regulators about the construction of the pipeline’s compressor stations.
 
This most recent development in the beleaguered pipeline project comes on the eve of Thursday’s Senate confirmation hearings for nominees to fill two vacancies on FERC.  It also comes just days after 118 organizations issued a joint demand calling on FERC to halt Rover construction and conduct an internal review of the federal agency’s own pipeline approval process. Recently, FERC also ordered a temporary halt on the company’s use of the controversial drilling process that resulted in the Ohio wetland spills.
 
Highlights of the concerns raised in the motion:

• Horizontal drilling (HDD) violations in Ohio raise concern over Portage/Hell Creek in Livingston and Washtenaw counties: In the first two months of construction, Rover has been responsible for 18 pipeline-related incidents in Ohio ranging from open burning violations and bentonite mud spills to water pollution. The most serious thus far is the spillage of over two million gallons of drilling fluid into the wetland area adjacent to the Tucarawas River in Stark County, which resulted in a $431,000 fine from the Ohio EPA. Ohio EPA spokesperson James Lee observed, “It’s a tragedy in that we would anticipate this wetland won’t recover to its original condition for decades.” Even so, according to Energy Transfer spokesperson Alexis Daniel, such spills are a "common part of horizontal directional drilling." Because such spills appear to be normal for Energy Transfer, residents fear that if HDD resumes, a similar tragedy could happen at Portage Creek. Portage Creek is not only home to endangered- and at-risk species; it also empties into Portage Lake, into the Huron River and eventually Barton Pond, which is a source of Ann Arbor’s drinking water. 

• Energy Transfer ignored FERC’s order to use turbine engines in compressor stations: In the Rover project’s Final Environment Impact Statement (FEIS), FERC ordered Energy Transfer to use turbine engines, because they are quieter and safer for nearby residents. However, Rover’s more recent documents reveal that the company plans to use the more problematic and unapproved reciprocating engines, which would needlessly put nearby residents at greater risk. Such post-hoc switches, residents allege, are part of a wider pattern of dishonesty with regulators and disregard for public safety that characterizes Energy Transfer’s approach to the Rover project, which is why construction should be halted.

• Alleged misrepresentations by Energy Transfer contributed to FERC’s approval of a potentially more dangerous pipeline route around Silver Lake: On February 2, FERC approved a version of the pipeline route that would entrap the populated area around Silver Lake in Washtenaw County, including part of the Pinckney State Recreation Area, and which would also run within 400 feet of a children’s camp. This comes despite the federal agency’s preference throughout the environmental review process for a less-dangerous alternative path that would follow an existing easement along ITC power lines. FERC’s reversal appears to have hinged on faulty data that ET Rover provided to the agency after the review process closed, in which Rover switched table headings and labels in order to create a false impression that the Silver Lake route posed less of a risk than the power-line route preferred by FERC.

• FERC failed to consider route alternatives at contaminated site: Another factor that appears to have influenced FERC’s decision to approve the Silver Lake route is a contamination site near the ITC power lines at the former site of Patterson Lake Products. The motion filed today argues that FERC’s sudden route switch in February was based on an outdated map, and that FERC did not assess all possible alternatives, including one identified by FERC itself at an earlier point in the review process. The review process, the motion argues, must be re-opened to allow FERC and the public to consider otheralternatives that would keep the route closer to the existing easement, and farther from highly-populated residential areas.

Residents say they are also concerned about the financial instability of the pipeline’s largest contracted shipper, Ascent Resources. According the credit-rating agencies Moody’s and S&P, Ascent is at imminent risk of default with little prospect of recovery. In February, FERC’s conditional approval of the Rover Pipeline held that this alone could be sufficient cause to trigger FERC to halt construction, and should give investors in Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) pause.
 
Find out more about Michigan Residents Against ET Rover atwww.overwithrover.com, or on Facebook atfacebook.com/ETRovergohome/. 

We have good news from Mosie Welch, our Gerrymandering committee chair:

The Ohio Attorney General has approved the ballot summary to put congressional redistricting reform on the ballot.

The next step is to gather signatures for the petition. The League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland is planning to gather 600,000 signatures in Ohio.

See their website  for more information about how you can help: 
http://lwvgreatercleveland.org/

Our partners are Sustainable Medina County are hard at work as usual. Here is what they're up to and how you can help:

Help us in our fight to stop this pipeline altogether.

Many communities along the routes of proposed pipelines are initiating a COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS, which would give the people living there a voice and a right to be heard.

This pipeline is a high pressure TRANSPORT line that will not benefit anyone in Medina County.  We are taking on considerable risk, with no benefits. Corporate profits is the only motive. The more pipelines, the more frenetic fracking in our state.

When you see a petition for a COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS, please sign it, so that this issue can be placed on the ballot in November!

For more information, please go to:
sustainablemedinacounty.org or NoNexus.org
​

Another note from our partners at Sustainable Medina County:
​
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is planning to schedule hearings that would install Donald Trump's nominees at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

FERC is currently unable to approve fracked gas pipelines and LNG export facilities because they don't have a legal quorum (enough members).

Call your representatives to ask that they oppose these hearings so that further pipeline development is avoided.

For more information, see the following post from Beyond Extreme Energy:
https://beyondextremeenergy.org/2017/05/15/the-senate-committee-on-energy-natural-resources-needs-your-phone-call-now/

Image courtesy of EcoWatch, http://www.ecowatch.com/green-lawsuit-nexus-pipeline-2392368568.html

Our partners at Sustainable Medina County alerted us to an update on the Nexus Pipeline. A group of 60 people in three counties have filed a lawsuit to stop the pipeline.

You can learn more in the article in the Medina Gazette: ​http://www.medina-gazette.com/Medina-County/2017/05/14/Lawsuit-aims-to-stop-NEXUS-pipeline.html

by Mosie Welch

National Monuments at risk and the comment period for the Newly minted Bears Ears is only 15 days beginning with May 12, 2017.  Below are links with outlining each monument, Where to comment online and via mail.  The Department of the Interior Notice of Open Period for Comments is an unprecedented attack on numerous monuments that is deauthorized will open the door to commercial and corporate plundering of significant cultural, historical, and natural resources.  ALERT: Notice Bears ears has a 15 day comment period.  DO NOT DELAY you comments.  All others monuments have a 60 day comment period. 

DOI Press Release, Monuments Under Review:  https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-releases-list-monuments-under-review-announces-first-ever-formal

From the DOI Press Release:  Comments may be submitted online after May 12 at http://www.regulations.gov   by entering “DOI-2017-0002” in the Search bar and clicking “Search,” or by mail to Monument Review, MS-1530, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

DATES: The Department will shortly publish a notice in the Federal Register officially opening the public comment period. Written comments relating to the Bears Ears National Monument must be submitted within 15 days of publication of that notice. Written comments relating to all other designations subject to Executive Order 13792 must be submitted within 60 days of that date.

An overview of information related to monument review:  http://www.grindtv.com/nature/public-comment-period-for-review-of-national-monuments-starts-may-12/#VoUqfDdQptMe2Jpt.97

Department of the Interior Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996; Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment – link to the comment docket:  https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOI-2017-0002

What do I say in my comment:
When officials review public comment, they are required to consider a broad range of impacts – environmental, cultural, historic use, emotional ties, and the greater good to name a few.  Your comments ARE PUBLIC and may be used in any law suit brought against the United States to prevent the deauthorization of the monuments.  Each comment is read and cataloged.  I urge you to consider the monuments of concern to you and make comment on why you feel they should remain protected public lands.  Consider why these lands belong to American people and impact there will be if they are deauthorized.  What will we lose?  What about the monument is unique and provides the American people with a tie to the past, preserves a unique environment or habitat, or a range of cultural/historical resources and ties to a community or past.  Do not be afraid to share a unique perspective.

A brief and local example of what can stop a government program.  When Cuyahoga Valley National Park first wanted to manage the deer population with a reduction by sharpshooters they held a public comment period on the reduction plan and alternatives for reduction.  When determining the plan they did not consider a mitigation or education plan for the emotional impact reduction would have on citizens in the area that were against the reduction.  The park was taken to court and the lack of consideration of emotional impact was used to stop the reduction of the deer population.  It was 15 years before the park decided to revisit the reduction of the deer herd by sharp shooting.
 
 
 
 

Our members have been busy lately protesting and rallying and the local media has been taking notice. Here are a few of the recent headlines:

"Healthcare Vote Protested." The Die-In at Renacci's office on Saturday, May 7th made the front page of the Wadsworth Gazette. See page 32 for the complete story. http://html5.pagesuite.com/preview/postnewspapers/default.aspx?pubname=Wadsworth%20Post&pubid=20713639-e91a-4e61-9fa5-d0bd095f727f

"Rep. Renacci's Health Care Vote Protested." The Medina Gazette covered the Die-In on Wednesday, May 10th. While the article comes acrossed biased in favor of Renacci, our own Mary Luebke does a nice job of voicing our concerns.  http://www.medina-gazette.com/Medina-County/2017/05/10/Rep-Renacci-39-s-health-care-vote-protested.html

"Area Residents Rallied Against Healthcare Bill." The Canton Repository covered the rally and speeches at the City Council meeting urging members to approve a resolution calling on the Senate to preserve the Affordable Care Act. http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170508/area-activists-rallied-against-gop-health-care-bill

"Grave concerns: Trumpcare opponents stage Norwalk "die-in" with simulated cemetery". The Norwalk Reflector covered the Die-In outside Jim Jordan's office. http://www.norwalkreflector.com/Health-Care/2017/05/10/Grave-Concerns-Trumpcare-opponents-stage-die-in

"Protesters stage "Die-In" in front of Rep. Jordan's Norwalk office." The Sandusky Register also covered the protest at Jim Jordan's Office. http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201705090031
Video of protest at Representative Latta's office in Bowling Green. The Sentinel Tribune shared the video on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/286310076720/videos/10154326993846721/
​
"Rally focuses on Pipeline, Environment." The Medina Gazette covered the climate march in the Medina Square on April 29th. http://www.medina-gazette.com/Medina-County/2017/04/30/Rally-focuses-on-pipeline-environment.html

Great job! Keep up the good work!
​
Have you seen other news covering our events? Share the link in the comments!

Looking for a chance to let your hair down and catch up with some like-minded friends? If so, please join us at the Medina County Together Spring Social!

There are times that we all feel like we are the only Democrats in a red county. This couldn't be farther from the truth. This event is a "get to know" your fellow Medina Democrats, Progressive, Liberals, etc. Come join us for an evening of fellowship and fun. The event details are as follows:

When: Saturday May 20th from 4 - 7
Where: Eagles Club located at 696 Lafayette Rd. Medina Ohio.

There will be a cash bar.  Since this is during the dinner hour, we are asking that everyone bring a dish to share. Also, electric outlets are available.

We will also be having a silent auction which is always fun.

Please RSVP to the event either on our Facebook page (Medina County Together) or by e-mail to medinacountytogether@gmail.com (use "Social RSVP" in the subject line) or click here. 

Questions can be directed to Kathy Kinstler or to medinacountytogether@gmail.com.

Missed out on the Renacci "Wake for Victims of Trumpcare" on Sunday? Well, you're in luck, because there are many other ways to participate in the resistance to this issue. Here are a few to get you started.

WE CARE! Rally for Healthcare
When: Monday, May 8th at 5:30
Where: Parking Lot at the Carnegie Building - 236 Third Street S.W Canton
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/985124611623539/​

Meet for a rally and "die-in" across the street from the Canton City Council Chambers. Afterwards, attendees will will attend the council meeting following the rally. We will encourage Canton City Council to pass a resolution supporting the Affordable Care Act which will be sent to Washington. A resolution is being drafted, and we expect many on council to be favorable to passing it.  You do not need to be a Canton resident to attend.

Die in at Renacci's wadsworth office
When: Wednesday, May 10th, 12:00 - 2:00
Where: Renacci's Wadsworth Office, 1 Park Center Drive, Suite 302 , Wadsworth , OH 44281
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/271416039995776/ or https://actionnetwork.org/events/die-in-at-renaccis-wadsworth-office

​A repeat of Sunday's event, this time on a weekday when Renacci's staff will be in the office. Wear black and bring a sign, preferably one shaped like a gravestone

Distribute Flyers in Districts Where Reps Voted Yes
When: Anytime
Where: Any district whose representative voted Yes
RSVP: N/A

Organized by Action Together Ohio, the activity asks you to print and distribute flyers in any zone where the representative voted in favor of the AHCA. Here are the details copied from their Facebook group:

#OfficialPost #ActionTeam

DISTRIBUTE FLYERS ABOUT YOUR REP WHO VOTED "YES" TOTRUMPCARE!

The following Ohio House Republicans voted in favor of Trumpcare:

OH-1 Steve Chabot
OH-2 Brad Wenstrup
OH-4 Jim Jordan
OH-5 Bob Latta
OH-6 Bill Johnson
OH-7 Bob Gibbs
OH-8 Warren Davidson
OH-12 Pat Tiberi
OH-15 Steve Stivers
OH-16 James B. Renacci

We're kicking off a state-wide flyer distribution initiative, and we need your help!

To get started, visit this link: https://drive.google.com/…/fol…/0ByGs4vz2iMgdN1ljR3ZhVndFUDg

This will give you access to flyers for each of the 10 representatives who voted yes. Print out the one relevant to your district, make copies, and distribute!

___________________________________

A few guidelines:

1. You have the right to stand in a public place - public parking lots, public sidewalks, public parks, municipal little league fields, community/rec centers, etc. - and hand out flyers without interference. If someone is rude to you and does not want to take a flyer, just ignore them.

2. You can also seek permission from the owner of a commercial property, such as a store or restaurant, to distribute flyers to patrons.

3. You can hang flyers on bulletin boards of local establishments with the owner’s permission.

4. If you like, distribute flyers with a buddy (it’s always fun to flyer with a friend!), or with your family (teaching democracy to the youngins!)

5. If you’re feeling especially bold, mail a flyer to the representative himself - yes, himself, because in Ohio, all of the House Republicans who voted for Trumpcare are men - or walk into his office and politely ask a staffer if they’d like a flyer.

6. Have fun!

___________________________________

Last but not least, feel free to pass along the Google Drive folder to people and groups you trust, and get them to participate in this flyer campaign!


Do you know of another event or activity? Share it in the comments!

It was a bright, but windy, afternoon yesterday in front of Jim Renacci's office in Wadsworth. Aproximately 30 people, all dressed in black, and carrying signs shaped like gravestones turned up for the "Wake for Victims of Trumpcare". Attendees represented all age groups, even children, and came from as far away as Stark county.

Several attendees discussed their dissastifaction with the ACHA bill that recently pass in the house by just four votes. One of the most popular topics of conversation was the change in coverage for pre-existing conditions and the fact that many women's health concerns (everything from ovarian cancer to heavy menstrual periods) are considered pre-existing while many men's health concerns, like testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, are not.

Many sttendees identified themselves as members of local resistance efforts, including Medina County Together, Medina Patriotic Resistance. Action Together Stark, and Women's March Ohio - NE Ohio.

Support for the protestors was strong, in the form of honking horns and shouts of thanks from the drivers and passengers at the nearby intersection. A few detractors loudly expressed their disagreement, but the attendees were not deterred. Most smiled and waved in response.

More local information about the healthcare bill passage can be found in the Medina Gazette: http://www.medina-gazette.com/Medina-County/2017/05/06/Medina-County-congressional-representatives-talk-health-care-vote.html

Is your head spinning?  Yeah, so is mine!  Trump is doing so much damage so quickly, it sometimes feels as though we will never keep up.   There are so many issues calling us to fight, that it can become overwhelming.   As Activist co-chair, along with Mary Luebke and John Leonard, we decided that our first activist event should address the elephant in the room. The elephant being the very possible Trump ties with Russia and Russian hacking of our democracy.  Our goal was to get as many written letters as we could urging/demanding our representatives to call for an independent investigation into Trump’s ties with Russia and hand deliver the letters to Renacci, Gibbs and Portman at their offices followed up with our groups protesting outside of their offices.  

We hand delivered letters to Renacci, Gibbs and Portman’s offices and had enough people to stage our demonstration outside Renacci’s office.  I was at that demonstration and I can tell you, we had fun and it felt great to deliver those letters and hold our signs high in protest of what our government, in this case, is not doing.    

We requested a face-to-face meeting with Renacci and are waiting to hear from his aides to schedule a meeting.  I will be following up with phone calls once a week to get that appointment set.

As a newly formed committee for MCT we are learning how to get the job of effective activism done.  We did learn a few things from our first effort.

1. Any protests needing to be scheduled during the week will be scheduled on Tuesdays.  We will be able to tap into MoveOn.org’s event promotion resources.  MoveOn.org promotes “Resist Trump Tuesdays” and we can coordinate with them.  
2. We will target one office at a time.
3. We are forming a Media Committee which will help get the word out to the media.
   
   
   

We will persist, we will resist!  

Judi Holowatyj

Fifty people of all ages stood for two hours in the pouring rain on Medina Public Square today as part of the nationwide People's Climate March to voice their concerns about global climate change and the damage that it is already causing the environment.  Although many were residents of Medina County, others traveled from Mansfield, Westlake and Euclid to be a part of this "Sister March".  

Many of those in attendance also mentioned their concerns about the NEXUS Pipeline and compressor station and how that "corporate industry" will affect the health, safety and environment of Medina County residents and other residents throughout Ohio. Some of the major concerns around the pipeline include:  

• NEXUS will not be putting an odor additive to the gas that is passing through the pipeline in Medina County so residents will not be able to detect a leak and report it
• The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will not be testing the air even though the compressor station will be releasing toxins such as radon, benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, etc. into the air of a Medina County every 32 hours.)

Even though the weather was uncooperative, there were no complaints and the chants continued and when the march concluded, the highly energized group got together at Cool Beans to connect, warm up and sign the Medina County Charter/Bill of Rights petition.  All in all a very good day!

For more information about the march and some great pictures, see the article in The Medina Gazette: http://www.medina-gazette.com/Medina-County/2017/04/30/Rally-focuses-on-pipeline-environment.html

For further information as to how you can sign the Charter/Bill of Rights petition, please leave your contact information at the website sustainablemedinacounty.org