We wanted to provide you with a short update on one of our final appeals before the MassDEP. 

In mid-September, nearly 9 months after closing arguments, we received our first update on the case. Mr. Giorlandino stated he wanted feedback on what bearing, if any, two recent court cases have on our case. Those cases are: City of Port Isabel v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Conservation Law Foundation v. Energy Facilities Siting Board.

Our attorney, on behalf of the “Ten Residents Group”, had to file a supplemental brief on this matter, as did Enbridge (Algonquin), and Mass DEP. The supplemental briefs are available below.

Just this week, we received our first update on the case. Mr. Giorlandino is seeking feedback on what bearing, if any, two recent court cases have on our case. Those cases are: City of Port Isabel v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Conservation Law Foundation v. Energy Facilities Siting Board.

As we move forward in our campaign, we wanted to let you know that we have made the decision to move our meeting schedule from monthly to every other month. But don't fret -- we are still active behind-the-scenes and are committed to the fight long-term! If something urgent or time-sensitive arises, we will schedule a meeting sooner. 

On January 31, 2024, the parties in the Ch.91 Waterways Appeal hearing met again for oral arguments. The second hearing lasted close to two and half hours. We expect to hear a final decision from the Presiding Officer sometime in March. We will keep you updated. You can watch the full recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6t2c2akQa8

Stop Project Maple, a multi-state coalition of nearly 100 community organizations from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, delivered a letter to Governor Healey, to bring attention to Enbridge’s Project Maple.

Videographer Robert Lamothe filmed our rally on November 15, 2023. You can watch the footage below. Thanks, Bob!

Today, five people blocked a gate at the site of the Enbridge gas compressor station in Weymouth. Members of Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station (FRRACS) and their allies are blocking the gate while sitting in rocking chairs & holding baby dolls, to highlight the need to protect current and future generations from fossil fuel pollution. Signs at their feet read: “No More Toxic Gas”. 

On October 25, 2023, the first part of our Ch. 91 Waterways License appeal hearing with Mass DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) and Enbridge took place. You can watch a recording of the hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxpIqkHvqCw

During the September 26, 2023, segment of “Ask the Governor” on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, Governor Healey was asked why the state is still supporting the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, despite the state’s climate plan to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. In response she said, “No new fossil fuel power plants. No new fossil fuel transmission lines, ok? We don’t want any of those pipelines.” (Boston Public Radio, beginning at 02:41:45). We applaud this response and will hold the Governor accountable to her commitment of no new fossil fuels.

Enbridge, the company responsible for the Weymouth compressor station, recently released notice of an “Open Season” for a new expansion project called “Project Maple”. Open season refers to time in which companies can bid on the gas from a proposed project. Open season for this project ends in November. It’s unclear when exactly the public will receive more information about the potential buyers of the gas. You can access the Open Season document here.

On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, Extinction Rebellion Boston (XR) organized a special standout to celebrate their months of action. The following statement from FRRACS member, Alice Arena, was read in front of the State House.

Our member, Margaret Bellafiore, an artist, Weymouth resident, and activist, returned to the compressor station site with another installment of her “Black Widow” performance. This performance is part of a nine year protest performance where children are put at risk from the carcinogenic Enbridge compressor station.

The Public Involvement Program meeting held on Monday June 12, 2023, on the Clean Harbors fire was recorded and available for you to watch. Your comments can be sent to the Licensed Site Professional (LSP) Tom Nunno by the deadline of July 2, 2023. Send to: Thomas.Nunno@tetratech.com

This meeting covered Enbridge's plan to control erosion on the eastern side of the property and, possibly, do some cleaning up on the beach. The report is over 800 pages long, but you can read it here.

Andrea Honoré, a FRRACS member and Weymouth resident, led the #SitWithAndrea sit-in during Governor Baker’s tenure. She spent her lunchbreak in his waiting room for months on end, with the hope of getting the change to speak with him about the compressor station. Years later, she sat down with Inside Climate News to reflect on her sit-in.