FERC discusses FRRACS' appeal for a rehearing

FERC rejects denial of FRRACS’ request for a rehearing

At the January 2021 meeting of FERC, the commissioners discussed our request for a rehearing on Enbridge’s certificate of operation. Three of the five Commissioners rejected the denial of FRRACS' rehearing request that was issued in November of 2020. While this was good on the one hand, it leaves us in legal limbo once again. With no denial, we cannot move to take FERC into the Federal Court of Appeals. With no approval, FERC will not review our request that they rescind the certificate of in-service operation.

Why did the commissioners revisit our rehearing request? In September of 2020, FERC approved Algonquin’s (Enbridge) certificate of operation, which allowed Enbridge to place the compressor station into operation. In response, FRRACS filed a request for a rehearing on the issuance of the in-service certificate to Algonquin (Enbridge) with FERC. Our request was denied in November 2020. On a separate, but important note, the compressor station has been off since the beginning of October after 2 system failures led to a stay of operation while a federal investigation is being done. The commissioners revisited the issue in response to these recent emergency shutdowns.

You can listen to an audio recording of the meeting here. For written text of the audio captions, go here.

Related News Articles:

The Boston Globe - After years of protests, a glimmer of hope for opponents to the Weymouth gas compressor (link)

“In a vote by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a majority of members ruled the panel had improperly denied a request for a hearing on its approval from neighbors and environmental advocates who have long opposed the compressor. The commissioners, one of whom was appointed since the facility won approval in the fall, cited safety and environmental concerns for their action. …

At an online hearing, Commissioner Richard Glick said the FERC must look more closely at the impact of the station on low-income residents who live nearby and “do more than give lip service to environmental justice.”’ (The Boston Globe)

WATD - Members of FERC Open Possibility for Rehearing of Weymouth Compressor Station (link)

“In a 3-2 vote, Commissioners Rich Glick, Allison Clements, and Neil Chatterjee voted against a denial of a request for a re-hearing on the project.

Alice Arena, the President of the Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station, says the action by FERC is encouraging.” (WATD)

Miriam Wasser of WBUR has a tweet thread summarizing the significance of the FERC meeting. You can read Miriam’s thread here.