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:
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. A message from your Medina County Together Fair Districts Committee Chair, Mosie Welch I am committed to working for Fair Districts in Ohio – As a believer in democracy, I firmly believe that Americans and Ohio citizens must have their vote count in every election, every time. Gerrymandering reduces the impact of one person = one vote in Ohio and around the country. It affects democrats, republicans, and independents and is among the biggest problems in American elections today. Without change – our elected officials will become increasingly more extreme and elected official’s allegiance to their party will become stronger, while attention to constituent concerns diminishes. Medina County Together will be helping with collecting signatures for Fair Districts to get the redistricting proposal on the ballot in 2017. Want to be a part of making Fair Districts a reality in Ohio? Here's how: Sign up for email updates or get mobile updates by texting DISTRICT to 864237. Volunteer! Sign up for one of our many volunteer opportunities. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSee7D0vIkuVg2vXshfpC_4oZoNvuaRNMice25WB8rXJ-Ike9g/viewform?c=0&w=1 Please join with the Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition here in Ohio in getting the word out by liking and sharing information about redistricting in Ohio on twitter and facebook. Twitter @OhFairDistricts Facebook; Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition The following information is from www.fairdistricts.org. Feel free to the visit the website for even more information. Gerrymandering is an age old problem in politics where the legislative party in power draws the district lines in a way that favors their party; packing a district with the party voters as well as their donors and spreading out the district over a wide variety of media areas making it harder for the opposition to get their message out and raise money. Many times, people will not run because they don’t believe they can win, so the incumbent candidate is unchallenged. Find out more about gerrymandering here http://www.fairdistrictsohio.org/what-is-gerrymandering.html I’m in the party in power or an independent voter, why should I care? Gerrymandering takes away the one person = one vote deciding an election. Because districts are carved and packed to favor the party in power, there is more competition in the primary between the candidates for a party than there is in the final election between parties. Candidates are more responsive to their party than to their voters. More extreme candidates get elected. Ohio has some of the worst gerrymandered districts in the county. Find out more here http://www.fairdistrictsohio.org/ohios-gerrymandering-problem.html Who is Fair Districts = Fair Elections? “The Fair Districts = Fair Elections Coalition is committed to ending the hyperpartisan way in which congressional districts are manipulated by the political party in power. When in power, politicians from both major political parties have drawn the district lines to favor their own political party and rigged the districts creating uncompetitive elections or very "safe" seats for members of Congress. Fair elections are dependent upon fair districts. Mapmaking should focus on voters!” http://www.fairdistrictsohio.org/about.html 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! The Medina Democratic Club is focusing on helping find, train and elect candidates. We collaborate and work closely with our friends at Medina County Together. Come to our meeting if you want to run for office or help democrats get elected. Bring a friend; bring a neighbor. All progressive-minded people are welcome.
Remember: A candidate gets elected with help from great volunteers!!! The next Medina Democratic Club meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 pm at the Medina Library (210 S. Broadway, Medina – Community Rooms A & B). 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.
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:
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 |
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