Action Item: Call Gary Moran at DEP to report toxic exhaust, loud sounds, and strong odors at the site -- 617-292-5775

Yesterday we posted a photo of some alarming brown exhaust gas blowing from one of the stacks at Enbridge's compressor station. What is this stuff?? Well, whatever it is, it's not good. We've already received reports of eye irritation, difficulty breathing, strong odors, loud sounds, and light pollution.

FERC announced their decision today to grant full operation to Enbridge for the Weymouth compressor station. Though we are disappointed by their decision, we are not surprised. FERC has long been a rubber stamp agency enabling the fossil fuel industry to destroy communities and, ultimately, the planet.

The Fore River Residents are disappointed but not at all surprised by FERC's decision today to grant full operation to Algonquin for Weymouth compressor station. FERC has long been a rubber stamp agency enabling the fossil fuel industry to destroy communities and, ultimately, the planet. FRRACS will continue to fight, through all means available, the operation of this monster in our midst until it is shut down. We have every intention of making it, as Mayor Hedlund says, a $100M White Elephant--a monument to the hubris of Enbridge.

Well, Campers, in a not at all surprising move, FERC just rubber stamped Algonquin's demand to begin shipping gas on October 1. All on a day when 3 witnesses saw the smoke coming out of the stack.

Stay tuned-- we'll have actions soon!

Senator Patrick O’Connor sent letters to Attorney General Maura Healey and the and EEA Secretary on behalf of the Fore River Basin Delegation, requesting a halt to activities due to recent safety issues.

Many thanks to Senators O”Connor, Keenan and Timilty and Representatives Mariano, Cusack, Murphy, Meschino, and Ayers for their continued advocacy.

As we are trying very hard to stay on top of all of the fracked gas venting going on at the failed compressor station, we want you to know--and we apologize for the late notice--that the major blowdown of 265,000 standard cubic feet of this nasty methane and all of the toxins it carries with it will be tomorrow "around" 2:00 PM. Enbridge will not give us the courtesy of a two hour window or anything exact, but this was what was told to a FRRACS' member today. Go here for the letter to the Town sent last Friday with the specifics.

We have submitted a letter on the FERC docket, demanding that they refuse Enbridge's request to place the facility in-service. You can read the letter here and below.

Samantha Phillips is the head of the Mass Emergency Management Agency. MEMA is the agency that SHOULD have paid a lot more attention to the siting of this compressor station. They have failed us as a region by ignoring all of the safety issues we have brought up for almost six years. They have failed to provide even the most basic safety and evacuation plans for the residents of the Basin.

We are counting on you to call Ms. Phillips at 508-820-2010 or Tweet to her @MassEMA

Health Impact Assessment Community Advisory Committee addresses MAPC audit

Members of the Advisory Committee disappointed with MAPC audit

Weymouth, MA—Members of the Community Advisory Committee have reviewed the audit performed by Public Health by Design for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) released on Monday September 14, 2020 in regards to the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the Weymouth compressor station published in January of 2019. This audit was precipitated by public scrutiny and outcry after the original release of the HIA. The public criticism of the HIA is borne out by the audit findings.

With the recent accident at the compressor station, we know that you are all very anxious. We find that the best cure for anxiety is to have a plan. In this case, in order to have a plan, you will need to have some emergency numbers in your tool kit, and we are happy to give you a few right now.

Please put these into your cell phone, computer, or just tack them up on a wall near a phone--whatever works best for you! We are beginning with local numbers and moving on to Enbridge and State numbers, depending on what the situation is.

Well, Campers, we hate to say we told you so....but, we told you so. The MAPC released the audit findings on the Health Impact Assessment today. It isn't pretty. Reader's Digest version? Baker limited the scope, didn't give them enough money, and didn't give them enough time. Surprisingly, the two agencies that did the most damage--the DEP and the DPH--refused to be interviewed by the auditors. Color us shocked. So, you aren't crazy, Friends, the HIA really was terrible and you are not to blame for the health problems created by a DEP and a DPH who care nothing about your environment or your health. Read the report. It's worth the time.

Many thanks to Congressman Lynch for demanding that the DOT stop the operating of the compressor station and perform a risk and safety assessment. Something that should have been done over 5 years ago.

At around 9:00 AM today, Enbridge had a systems failure that forced the Emergency Shut Down System (ESD) to be manually tripped by the workers. A gasket on a pump in the one of the separators failed and, as a result, 265,000 standard cubic feet (scf) and 35 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were released at ground level. The release of this level of gas at ground level could have caused a massive fire or explosion. Had the workers not been in the area, we can only conjecture what might have happened. You can read a little bit about the incident here and there is a link to the letter that Enbridge had to file with the Department of Environmental Protection in the article. The DEP then notified the Town.

Below is a summary of the upcoming events and deadlines across the various ongoing appeals:

It's been a long couple of weeks, and if you're anything like us, you're tired and aggravated. We hear you and feel the pain with you. We hope that you had a bit of a chance to relax over the long Labor Day Weekend and that maybe you even got to see--socially distancing, of course--family and friends. We hope that, physically and mentally, you got some rest.

But, here we are, back to work after a rather strange summer. Here are a few things that you can do to keep the pressure on Enbridge

“Today, I submitted a formal comment to the MassDEP to assert my serious concerns with the reapproval of the air quality permit for the Weymouth compressor station.

While the air quality permit irresponsibly moves forward, the issues that Fore River Basin residents and I brought forward years ago have still not been addressed or alleviated by the permitting department or the applicant, Enbridge.” - Senator O’Connor

We have much to tell you on this Labor Day Weekend. In typical form, Enbridge dropped some very difficult information on us today. They will begin what is known as "commissioning" activities starting on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Please go here to view the letters sent to the Town of Weymouth to better understand what these activities entail.

Below is a list of urgent action items. We need you now more than ever. Take action today and urge your friends and networks to join you.

We hate to give you bad news, Campers, but we need you to know that the First Circuit rescinded the air quality permit vacatur late yesterday. Reader's Digest version? Algonquin can petition FERC to turn on the gas as soon as they are done constructing. The Court bought Algonquin's "winter weather" BS hook, line, and sinker. And the Court errs in thinking that Algonquin will have to wait until the BACT remand is completed in January of 2021 in order to give that ole spigot a turn.

What can you do? Comment, comment, and comment, again. Go here for some help on that.

Action Item: Please submit a comment to MassDEP in response to Enbridge’s air permit.

It’s all very complicated, but we have two ways that you can take action:

1. Send a message to MassDEP using this Sierra Club AddUP Campaign. It’s quick and easy — just fill out your contact, add a personal note (if you want), and hit sent!

2. Send a personal email using this email guide. We have prepared a list of possible questions/comments for you to send into the DEP.

Action Item: Please submit a comment to MassDEP in response to the vacated air permit.

This is very important as we are putting every effort into stopping the nearly finished compressor station from ever operating. Enbridge knows this is likely to be a "stranded asset," and, sadly, one that will be paid for by the gas ratepayers. Please help us to make this a very painful lesson for this greed driven company. Instructions and sample comments are available here. You can also send a message via this Sierra Club AddUP Campaign.