January 7, 2019
Secretary Kimberly Bose
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426
Re: TGP 261 Upgrade Projects, Docket No. CP19-7-000
Environmental Assessment – Scoping Comments
Dear Secretary Bose:
We, the undersigned concerned individuals and organizations in the affected communities of Agawam, Easthampton, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Northampton, Springfield, West Springfield and surrounding communities submit these initial comments regarding the scope of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“the Commission’s”) environmental review of the 261 Upgrade Projects (the “Projects”) proposed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (“TGP” or the “Company”). We concur with the comments filed by the Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast, and submit these additional comments to underscore our own concerns.
1.The September 13, 2018 explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley cast serious doubts on both the claimed need for and the safety of the TGP Projects, which are designed to ensure delivery of more gas to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts (“Columbia”). Since the tragedy, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has imposed an indefinite moratorium on most Columbia work. Columbia is also under federal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) and subject to a Congressional hearing and wrongful death suits. Its parent company, NiSource, is under federal investigation. It is not lost on us that Columbia was also the company responsible for the 2012 explosion in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts.
We ask the Commission to consider carefully whether
- questions of Columbia’s negligence in the Merrimack Valley tragedy pose increased threat of explosion and massive environmental damage to our region; and whether
- the imposed suspension of pipeline construction will lead to the invalidation of the contract that TGP has with Columbia.
We believe that these developments – including ongoing state and federal investigations – should weigh heavily in the Commission’s analysis under its National Environmental Policy Act review.
2.The stated need for the project has been vastly overblown, with Columbia speculating unrealistic gas demand growth in the region to support its expansion proposal. Yet one of the affected service communities, Northampton, has adopted a 100% Renewable Energy plan and has resolved to oppose the Projects as unnecessary. Gas is increasingly being rejected as a method of home heating and cooking due to recognition that methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas in the short term than CO2. Methane leaked and vented from natural gas during extraction, processing and transmission makes it use comparable to coal in its impact on climate change. Asthma risk in children is increased in homes burning gas for cooking. Many local communities are committed to reduced energy use and the conversion to locally-sourced renewable energy as recommended by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Less costly and more environmentally sustainable alternatives to the project include more aggressive home energy efficiency interventions by Columbia and greater policy emphasis on and subsidy of efficient electric heat pumps and convection stoves. Berkshire Gas, another local distribution company who takes its gas from the Company off the Northampton Lateral, has recently abandoned expansion plans in lieu of alternative heating choices such as air-source heat pumps. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has already instituted incentives for conversion to air-source heat pumps and local programs such as Berkshire’s have been instituted to support this effort.
We ask that the exaggerated speculation regarding increases in the demand for natural gas in this area be thoroughly analyzed and weighed against the known environmental risks of the Projects.
3. The Projects will contribute to the mounting threat of climate change affecting our region. A major reason for laws and policy efforts to reduce gas consumption is the existential threat of climate change. Due to emissions of carbon dioxide and methane (gas), temperatures have already risen 1 degree centigrade worldwide and are predicted to surpass 2 degrees if fossil fuel consumption continues at present rates. The Projects will facilitate increased gas-based emissions in our region by >25% in ten years, eviscerating goals to cut overall emissions by 45% as called for in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C. Increased emissions will also violate the Commonwealth’s Global Warming Solutions Act and contribute to fulfillment of the projections of a hotter, wetter and flooded Northeast as outlined in the Fourth National Climate Assessment.
We ask that climate impacts be fully investigated and weighed heavily in the Environmental Assessment.
4. The project will contribute to worsening air quality. Increasingly gas and its additives are being recognized as contributing to air pollution and respiratory disease. Gas stoves are associated with pediatric respiratory illness. Ninety (90) municipal Public Health Departments in Massachusetts, representing 3.1 million people or 47.0% of the population, have endorsed or sent letters to the governor requesting that environmental impact assessments be done on all new gas infrastructure.
We request that the contributions of the Projects to worsening air quality and public health be thoroughly analyzed and weighed by the Commission.
5.The Projects will have lasting local impact on wetlands, stream and riverfront areas and endangered and threatened species. The Projects will have permanent and “temporary” impacts to a large number of wetland resource areas as proposed. Within those wetland resource areas and surrounding uplands, we are aware of endangered species, including the Eastern Box Turtle, and several species of “greatest conservation need,” including multiple species of our native trout, that will be affected by the Projects.
We ask that the Commission scope the impacts on all wetland resource areas, that they be thoroughly inventoried and evaluated for avoidance. The same attention and protection should be given to all wildlife species potentially impacted.
6. Soils and agriculture will be damaged by the Projects. The looping project will cross, convert and compact prime Connecticut River Valley agricultural land. At least one farm’s acreage is likely to be taken by eminent domain.
We request that a full accounting be made of all farmland and agricultural soils affected by the Projects. The impacts to the agricultural and business economy should also be scoped.
Respectfully submitted,
Columbia Gas Resistance Campaign
Massachusetts Senator Joanne Comerford (Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester)
Massachusetts Representative Natalie Blais (1st Franklin)
Massachusetts Representative Mindy Domb (3rd Hampshire)
Massachusetts Representative Lindsay N. Sabadosa (1st Hampshire)
Northampton City Councilor Alisa Klein
Arise for Social Justice
Ashfield Affinities Group
Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Boston Clean Energy Coalition
Boston Climate Action Network
Cambridge Mothers Out Front
Central Square Health and Wellness
Citizens Against the Rehoboth Compressor Station (CARCS)
Climate Action Now
Easthampton Climate Response
Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Extinction Rebellion
Grassroots Capital Management, PBC
Hilltowns Eco-Action Committee
Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group
Mothers Out Front Massachusetts
Mothers Out Front Worcester
No Fracked Gas in Mass
No Sharon Gas Pipeline | Clean Energy Now
Northampton High School Environmental Club
Peace & Justice Team of First Churches, Northampton
Pioneer Valley Chapter Green Rainbow Party
Pioneer Valley Democratic Socialists of America
Progressive Democrats of Mass (PDM)
Red Leaves Affinity Group
Resist the Pipeline
Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible
Rising Together
Sheffield Saves
Solar Store of Greenfield
StopNED
Sugar Shack Alliance
T Stephen Jones Public Health Consulting
The Enviro Show
The Resistance Center for Peace and Justice
UUSGS Green Team (Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield)
Wildside Cottage & Gardens
2degreesatgreenneighbors.earth
350 Central Mass
350ma-berkshires
Abigail Ferla, Ashfield
Adele Franks, Northampton
Ahna Knudsen, Worcester
AJ,Stockbridge
A. Kelley,Newton
Al blake, Becket
Al Mckusick, Northampton
Alice Briggs, Amherst
Alice Trexler, Arlington
Alicia G. Bowman, Newton Center
Alicia Russell, Arlington
Alisa Pearson, Pelham
Alison Conant, Newtonville,
Allen Young, Royalston
Allison Gramolini, Northampton
Alyssa Foos, Northampton
Amanda Nash, Shelburne Falls
Ann Boland, Arlington
Amy Landau, Easthampton
Amy Light, Boston
Amy Mertl, Somerville
Amy Schneider, Newton
Amy Tai,Newton
Anamaria Camargo, Boston
Andee Rubin, Arlington
Andra Rose, Amherst
Andrea Chasen, Longmeadow
Andrea Winslow, Arlington
Andrew Milroy,West Springfield
Ann Abrams, Brookline
Ann Darling, Easthampton
Anna Brewer, Northampton
Anna K Wilkins, Weston
Anne Goodwin, Arlington
Anne Jaskot, Northampton
Anne S Wright, Arlington
Annika, Northampton
Anupama Seshan Raman, Somerville
Ashley Casello, Amherst
Ashwin Ravikumar, Amherst
Avivah Goldman, Arlington
Barry De Jasu, Montague
Becky Carroll, Pelham
Benjamin Martin, Wallingford
Berl Hartman, Cambridge
Beverly C. Baggetta, Agawam
Birgitta McAlevey, Sharon
B. Laiosa, Arlington
Bonner McAllester, Monterey
Bonni Widdoes, Edgartown
Bridget Spann, Williamstown
Brittany Baldwin, Roslindale
Bruce Colton, Longmeadow
Bruce Palmer, Worcester
Carina Campobasso, Winthrop
Carla and Robert, Pittsfield
Carol, Winthrop
Carol Lewis, Amherst
Carol Lubkowski, Newton
Carol Saunders Chamberlain, Arlington
carole enright, Acton
Carole Horowitz, Amherst
Carolyn Lattin, Newton
Carter Bruce Tallman, Jr, Longmeadow
Cate Woolner, Northfield
Catherine, Agawam
Cathy Kristofferson, Ashby
Cathy Loula, Brookline
Cecelia Lang, Northampton
Celine Nader, Greenfield
Cheryl D Rose, Dalton
Cheryl Sreiberg, Worthington
Chris Stockman, Plainfield
Christopher Sabo, Easthampton
Claire Chang, Greenfield
Claire Galkowski, Westwood
Claire Miller, Boston
Claire Miraglia, Buckland
Clare Pearson, Charlemont
Clifford Phillips, Northfield
Colin Murphy, Amherst
Constance Dawson, Easthampton
Corey, Turners Falls
Corey Beauvais, Newton
Corinne M. Wingard, Agawam
Cynthia Campbell, Longmeadow
Cynthia Lawton-Singer, conway
Cynthia Mapes, Newton
Cynthia Pill, Newton
Cynthia Poirier, Plainfield
Cynthia Sommer, Longmeadow
D Dina Friedman, Hadley
Daniel Miller
Danielle Descoteaux, Arlington
Daphne Stevens, Northampton
David Backer, Newton
David Grodsky, Amherst
David J. Lafond, Holyoke
David Koester, Warwick
David Morse, Longmeadow
David Ross, Weymouth
Deb Friedman, Easthampton
Deb Schmill, Needham
Debbie Slotpole, Weston
Deborah A New, Cambridge
Deborah J Levy, Longmeadow
Deborah Shea, Springfield
Delia Marshall, Somerville
Delta Carney, Ashfield
Denise Conboy, Longmeadow
Dennis DiTullio, Grafton
Derek Petrus, N Weymouth
Devorah Levy, Northampton
Diana Chaplin, Williamsburg
Diana Lee, Concord
Diane Nassif, Petersham
Diane Sibley, Ashfield
Diane Becker, Newton
Don Ogden, Florence
Donna Jago, Agawam
Dorin, Northampton
Doris Duafala, Longmeadow
Doris Margolis, Longmeadow
Dorothy Baker, Northampton
Dorothy Ficken, West Newton
Douglas Barnshaw, MD, Springfield
Downing Cless, Arlington
Dr. Jodi Rodar, Pelham
Dr. Russ Vernon-Jones, Amherst
E, Northampton
E Broadbent, Harvard
Ed Stockman, Plainfield
Edward Armstrong, Holyoke
Eileen Kelley, Amherst
Eileen McGowan, Chesterfield
Elaine, Holyoke
Elaine Landes, Newton
Eleanor Lash, Northampton
Elizabeth Bowdan, South Hadley
Elizabeth Cooper, Newton
Elizabeth Gaberman, Longmeadow
Elizabeth Gifford, Watertown
Elizabeth Hayes, Watertown
Elizabeth Loughran, Belchertown
Elizabeth Port, Longmeadow
Elizabeth Steel, Weston
ellen bernstein, holyoke
Ellen Lohman, Longmeadow
Ellen M. Graves, West Springfield
Ellen Parker, Newton
Ellie Goldberg, Newton
Emily Koester, Northfield
Emily Norton, Newton
Emily Serafy-Cox, Northampton
Emma Landsman, Northampton
Erin Freed, Longmeadow
Errica Saunders, Worcester
Etel, Worcester
Eva Hudlicka, Amherst
Evan Eisentrager, Easthampton
Felicia Mednick, Amherst
Fran Fortino, W. Whately
Frances R. Cress, Longmeadow
Francia Wisnewski, Montague
Freeman Stein, Northampton
Gabriela Romanow, Cambridge
Gary Farner, Wellesley
Gary Schaefer, Hatfield
Gay Roberts, Wendell
Gerda Brown, Arlington
Ginger Ryan, Cambridge
Ginger Watts, Harvard
Grace Gustaferro, Amherst
Grace Hall, Somerville
Gretchen Saveson, Northampton
Guy O’Donnell, Holyoke
Hannah Mahoney, Cambridge
Hans Leo, Amherst
Helen Harrison, Northampton
Henry Rose, Dalton
Hope Gobron, Holyoke
Howard Faerstein, Florence
Ilia Cornier-Rivera, Northampton
Inge Damm-Luhr, Brookline
Isa, Pelham
Isabella Leo, Northampton
Jackie Ballance, Florence
Jacob Knowles, Belmont
Jacqueline Neiman, Longmeadow
James O. Michel, Hyde Park
James Perkins, Leverett
Jane Crosby, Cummington
Jane S Sillman, Cambridge
Jane Winn, Pittsfield
Janelle Matrow, Westhampton
Janet Coleman, Cambridge
Janet Winston, Amherst
Janice Hill, West Springfield
Jean Erlbaum, Greenfield
Jeanne Krieger, Lexington
Jeff Korff, Northampton
Jeff Napolitano, Northampton
Jenna Wang, Newton
Jennifer Forest, Belchertown
Jennifer Grochowski, Westfield
Jennifer Hartman, Lexington
Jennifer Le Hegaret, Arlington
Jennifer Markens, Ashfield
Jennifer Wenz, Northampton
Jeremy Master, Longmeadow
Jesse Ladner, Leeds
Jessica Ficken, Cambridge
Jewanne Cahill, Northboro
Joan Lesser, Longmeadow
Jill Solomon Marland, Shutesbury
Joan Levy, Pelham
Joanna Brown, Boston
Joanne Hirsch, East Longmeadow
Jodi Rodar, Pelham
Joe Graveline, Northfield
Joel Rosen, Florence
Johanna Ruth, Northampton
John A Lippitt, Reading
john cohen, northampton
John Lochhead, Conway
Jon Weissman, Granby
Jonah H Meyer, Shutesbury
Jonna Gaberman, Longmeadow
Joseph Pessolano, Wilbraham
Josh, New York
Josh Strassman, Amherst
Joyce Greif, Lexington
Joyce Rosenfed, Florence
Judd Greenstein, Gill
Judith A. Bednarz, Brookline
Judith fonsh, Leverett
Judith Hikes, Cambridge
Judith Norsigian, Newton
Judith Wagner, Northfield
Judy Gitelson, Pittsfield
Judy Hyde, Northampton
Judy Kolligian, Jamaica Plain
Judy Yaffe, Longmeadow
Julia Wallerce, Winthrop
Juliana Belding, Westwood
Julie HawkOwl, Sunderland
Julie Hudson, Northampton
Julie Lieberman, Worthington
Katie McDonald, Granby
Karen Sargent, Westminster
Karen Tallman, Longmeadow
Karin Baker, Florence
Karyn Wergland, Brookline
Kate O’Connor, Westhampton
Kathleen Daly, Northampton
Kathryn Argetsinger, Holyoke
Kathryn Barnes Leary, Longmeadow
Kathy Mullins, Longmeadow
Katy Pyle, Springfield
Kay Seligson, Arlington
kelly schatz, Northampton
Kelsey Wirth, Cambridge
Kenneth Lederman, Conway
Kevin Young, Northampton
Kim Gerould, Northampton
Kris Nelson, Greenfield
Kristen Sykes, Northampton
Kristen Wilmer, Florence
Kristin Dicioccio, Agawam
Kristine Jelstrup, Cambridge
Krystil, Springfield
Kyra Norsigian, Newton
Laila Tomsovic, Haydenville
Laura Clampitt, Holyoke
Laura Friedland-Kays, Northampton
Laura Hummel, Hatfield
laura moynagh, Maynard
Laurel Facey, Wendell
Laurel Turk, Sunderland
Lauren Palmer, Waltham
Laurie Boosahda, South Deerfield
Laurie Robinson, Longmeadow
Lawrence Hott, Florence
Lena Entin, Northampton
Lena Fletcher, Florence
Lenore Bryck, Amherst
Leslie Gray, Ashfield
Leslie Luchonok, Shutesbury
Leslie Scott, Amherst
Letitia Upton, Newton
libby Arny, Northampton
Linda J. Baker, Northampton
Linda Spink, Pelham
Lisa Barondes, Florence
Lisa Enzer, Montague
Lisa Hall, Florence
lisa shea, Pelham
Liza Neal, Northampton
Loie Hayes, Boston
Louise Grosslein, Amherst
Ludmilla Pavlova, Amherst
Lundy Bancroft, Florence
Lupu, Amherst
Lynette Cassel, Arlington
Lynn Waldron, Greenfield
Lynne Donaldson, Northampton
Madeline Liebling, Shelburne Falls
Malcolm K McNee, Northampton
Mandeliene Smith, Lexington
Marci Linker, Florence
Margaret B. Anderson, Easthampton
Margaret Bellafiore, Weymouth
Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Northampton
Margaret Carsley, Northampton
Margaret Miller, Northampton
Margery Hamlen, Boston
Margie Berg, East Longmeadow
Margot, Holyoke
Maria Costantini, Westwood
Maria Truslow, Newtonville
Marietta Hitzemann, Arlington
Marjorie Laule, Florence
Marjorie M. Pessolano, Wilbraham
Marjorie Weiselberg, Agawam
Mark Dunn, Hadley
Mark Roblee, Shutesbury
Marsha Harbison, Longmeadow
Marsha Odabashian, Dedham
Martha A. Nathan, Northampton
Martha Cohen, Northampton
Martha Werman, Greenfield
Martin L. Manchester, Chesterfield
Martin Urbel, Northampton
Mary Fago, Northampton
Mary Jane Else, South Hadley
Mary Johnson, Northfield
Mary Link, Ashfield
Mary Lou Conca, Shutesbury
Mary McCarthy, Amherst
Mary Whitaker, Haydenville
Mary Wyse, Amherst
Mary-Beth Carney, Easthampton
Mary Swedlund, South Deerfield
Matt Wagers, Cambridge
Matthew Berube, Amherst
Maura Donahue, Granby
Maureen Elise Quinn, Longmeadow
Maureen Flannery, Northampton
Maureen Richichi, Bedford
Meg Wickwire, Concord
Megan M. Wolf, Northampton
Melanie Renaud, Chestnut Hill
Meliss Ulen, Cambridge
Merrylees Turner,Amherst
Michael Kurland, Goshen
Michele Marantz,Longmeadow
Michele Martin,Boston
Michele Wick, Northampton
Michelle Joffroy, Northampton
Michelle Mirti, Longmeadow
Michelle Parrish, Amherst
Miranda Edison, Worthington
Miriam Kurland, Williamsburg
Montserrat Archbald, Whately
Nancy Clark, Brookline
Nancy Felton, Northampton
Nancy Grossman, Leverett
Nancy Kummer, Dedham
Nancy L. Rich, Chesterfield
Nancy Tame, Spencer
Nastasia Lawton-Sticklor, Leominster
Nate Krinsky, Medford
Nathalie Bridegam, Amherst
Nicholas Warren, Northampton
Nili Pearlmutter, Arlington
Nina Keller, Wendell
Norma Nunez-Vazquez, Longmeadow
Pamela Berger, Cambridge
Pamela Glaven, S. Deerfield
Pat Burdick, Newton
Pat Cantor, Cambridge
Patrice B. Ficken, Brookline
Patricia Benjamin, New Braintree
Patricia Davidson,Gloucester
Patricia O’Hagan, Lincoln
Paul DiLeo, Plainfield
Paul Newlin, West Whately
Paul Popinchalk, Worcester
Paula Rayman, Watertown
Paula Tredeau, Longmeadow
Peggy Kocoras, Granby
Peggy Lynch, Cambridge
Peter Jeswald, Conway
Peter Whelan, Amherst
Peter Wildermuth, Ashfield
Phil Thayer, Belmont
Phoebe Beierle, Weston
Phyllis Ewen, Cambridge
Polly Ryan, Plainfield
Priscilla A. Robbins,Amherst
Priscilla Lynch, Conway
Rachel Greenwood, Haydenville
Rachel Stevens, Northampton
Rayellen Kishbach, Amherst
Rebecca Himlin, Greenfield
Rebecca Lane, Arlington
Reed Schimmelfing, Northampton
Remke van Zadelhoff, Weston
Renata Selig, Newton
Rene Theberge, Northampton
Renu Bostwick, Bedford
Rev. Kelly Gallagher, Northampton
Reverend Georganne Greene, Pelham
Richard P. Purcell, Holyoke
Richard Prée, Ashfield
Richard Tredeau, Longmeadow
Rina Miller, Longmeadow
R. Kasinsky, Cambridge
Rob Cyr, Springfield
Robert Gardner, Florence
Roberta Issler, Northampton
Rose Wool, Lynn
Rosemary Wessel, Cummington
Roslyn Feldberg, Brookline
Ruth Ever, Leeds
Ruth R. Comstock, Newton
Sandra Sobek, Conway
Sara Berliner, Hampden
Sara Cummings, Greenfield
Sara Draper, Northampton
Sara Oaklander, Somerville
Sara T. Krohn, Holyoke
Sarah Conn, Arlington
Sarah Matthews, Amherst
Sarah McKee, Amherst
Sarah Meyers, Newton
Sarah Pick, Montague
Sarita Hudson, Northampton
Seth, Holyoke
Seth Wilpan, Northampton
Shannon Silva, Amherst
Sharon DeMatteo, Agawam
Sharon M Moulton, Northampton
Sharon McDonald, Amherst
Shaun Bartone, Worcester
Shauna, Feeding Hills
Sheila Delson, Northampton
Sheila Gilmour, Greenfield
Shirley Nelson, Amherst
Shirley S Winer, Huntington
Shoshana Marchand, Northampton
Sophie, Newton
Stellan Vinthagen, Amherst
Stephanie Blumenthal, Sheffield
Stephen Kurkoski, Warwick
Steve Rice, Shutesbury
Steve Swingle, New Braintree
Steven Botkin, Pelham
Steven C. Jones, Belchertown
Steven M. Adler-Golden, Newtonville
Steven Marantz, Longmeadow
Steven Morgan, Leverett
Sue Bridge, Conway
Susan F. Tornheim, Newton
Susan Grossberg, Agawam
Susan Haff, South Deerfield
Susan Lees, Arlington
Susan Theberge, Northampton
Suzanne Theberge, Northampton
Susan Voss, Northampton
Susanne Moser, Hadley
Suzanne G Sharp, Sturbridge
Suzanne R. Carlson, Greenfield
Sylvain Beloin, North Granby
Sylvia Staub, Springfield
T Stephen Jones, MD, Northampton
Talya Wintman, Longmeadow
Tammy Ryan, Belchertown
Tamsen Merrill, Ashfield
Tamsin, Amherst
Terry Wise, Stockbridge
Thomas Desellier, Granby
Tim, Amherst
Timothy N. Van Egmond, Montague
Todd Bearson, Arlington
Tom Neel, Belmont
Tracy R. Manzella, Rehoboth
Valerie C. Wisniewski, Orange
Vera, Belmont
Verne McArthur, Springfield
Vicki Van Zee, Northampton
Victoria Bok, Jamaica Plain
Vincent Frano, Pelham
Vivienne Simon, Northampton
Walter Wright, Worthington
Wendi Weinberg, Pelham
Willa Sippel, Florence
William Clark, Feeding Hills
William Jastromb, Northampton
William MacGillivray Jr, Shutesbury
Willis Bridegam, Amherst