We have one message to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC):
PHMSA says the Silver Lake entrapment route could have a 'Guillotine' failure - "Not out the realm of possibility for catastrophic failure"
Rover has already been sent one warning for pipeline violations by PHMSA in Michigan. Read it here: PHMSA warning
If you see a violation , take a photo and file a complaint using this easy to fill in form!
A message from the MI Citizens against Rover Pipeline:
Happy Fourth of July at beautiful Silver Lake! We want to let you know about the construction you see on the way in to beautiful SIlver Lake beach. A company called ET Rover is building a natural gas pipeline that, when finished, will have a blast radius of a half mile or more if there is a gas explosion (blasts are not uncommon).
The current route around the lake has NO EVACUATION ROUTE, and there will be NO ODORANT for early warning.
• All three entrances and exits would be impassable to the Pinckney State Recreation Area and Silver Lake in case of pipeline emergency, thus entrapping any park visitors and all residents of Silver Lake during a potentially massive and deadly explosion from leaving or emergency help from entering.
A safer route exists half a mile east of the proposed route and concerned citizens are calling for Rover to adopt this safer alternative.
WE WANT FERC TO HALT CONSTRUCTION of the pipeline pending investigation of the entrapment route.
Sincerely, Michigan Residents Against Rover Pipeline
In March of 2017 the residents of Silver Lake, Dexter Township Michigan, awoke to the harsh clamor of dozens of workmen feverishly denuding a wide swath of land just behind their homes. They were surprised to find that the incoming pipeline they had been led to believe would be collocated with a powerline at a safer distance from their homes and parks was now to hug their community. The maps that had been published in the local library and the statement made by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the Final Environmental Impact Statement all said one thing: LOCATE THE PIPELINE WITH THE POWERLINE EAST OF THE LAKE - which would avoid entrapping the neighborhoods and rec areas.
The Silver Lake route was the result of a last-minute route change, which we believe was an error on FERC's part. Problematically, the human & environmental were never fully studied and the residents were not duly notified as is required by law. Encompassed within the entrapped area:
But that's not what happened. Rover is ringing the Lake with back hoes, dump trucks, and digging equipment NOW. On July 4th weekend, some lake residents received a letter asking them to be the front line in observation, as indeed Rover spilled 5,000,000+ gallons of drilling mud in Ohio in April, not noticing the themselves that the spillage "encompassed a period of nearly three weeks."
Rover appears to expect the Michigan citizens to be the first line of observation for errors. We will oblige, as we learned from our Ohio counterparts who lost their pristine wetlands at the Tuscawaras River site what happens if the citizens trust Rover to watch themselves. Note that the initially cited 2,000,000 gallons in this article was later determined to be 5,000,000, some of which was contaminated with toxic diesel fuel.
We will oblige, as we learned from our Ohio counterparts who lost their pristine wetlands at the Tuscawaras River site what happens if the citizens trust Rover to watch themselves.
Calling Rover is NOT enough, however, as Rover has some history of ignoring spillage, for over 3 weeks. Note that the initially cited 2,000,000 gallons in this article was later determined to be 5,000,000, some of which was contaminated with toxic diesel fuel. In this letter from FERC on May 10, 2017, it is noted that the spillage continued for OVER THREE WEEKS before Rover put a stop to it.
Print the MI Handy Pipeline Contact List below to know who to call.
The following Pipeline Construction Violation Watchlist is borrowed from folks in Florida who were besot with the Sabal Trail pipeline --- Rover in Ohio and Michigan has all the same potential problems, and has already been served with multiple violations (including a 5,000,000 gallon spill). If you see ANY of these violations, first take a photo noting the exact time and location, and then fill out the Army Corps of Engineer violation Complaint Form (link below on right).
If you have photo documentation of an apparent violation and you do not feel comfortable filling out the form, email your evidence to overwithrover@gmail.com for help.
DO NOT ENTER THE ROVER EASEMENT TO OBTAIN PHOTOS. We citizens must observe all laws and regulations at all times.
(unattended fire, Rover equipment being used outside of easement, etc.)
Otherwise, contact the appropriate entity below to register your complaint. Keep this list handy: Click here to print pdf.
Click here for a watchlist of pipeline violations and here for the Army Corp of Engineers Violation Complaint Form.
To help us keep track of Rover’s violations, please also send a copy of your complaint to overwithrover@gmail.com .
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mike Gray 231-392-2589 mike.gray@contractlandstaff.com 405 Little Lake Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Gretchen Krueger Gretchen.krueger@energytransfer.com
Terry Turpin, Director John Wood, Acting Deputy Director Telephone: 202-502-8700 FAX: 202-219-0205
888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426
Rich McGuire, Director Telephone: 202-502-6177 rich.mcguire@ferc.gov
Shannon Jones, Deputy Director Telephone: 202-502-6410 Email: shannon.jones@ferc.gov
Dennis Brennan 734-878-3131 ext. 113 supervisor@putnamtwp.us
Harley Rider 734-426-3767 supervisor@dextertownship.org
Environmental Assistance Center 800-662-9278
Charles Dennison, Pinckney State Recreation Area Office 734-426-4913 DennisonC@michigan.gov
8555 Silver Hill Road, Pinckney, MI 49169
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Tuscawaras River experience in Ohio would indicate that Energy Transfer Partners is not diligent about following rules unless forced, and that FERC doesn't enforce the rules until the situation has become desperate. Our observations and reports may be needed to prevent the destruction of the Portage River/Hell Creek at the HDD site in the Huron River Watershed. After multiple legal filings imploring action, our only remaining recourse as citizens is our ability to shine a light on Rover's misdeeds.
Serious misdeeds include:
SPILLS If you see the following, or anything unusual, contact Rover’s project hotline at 1-888-844-3718
ROADS If you have reason to believe that a particular road will be used by Rover crews or machinery, we recommend photographing it now, in its original state. Then, if the crews do damage the road, it will be helpful to have these "before" and "after" photographs as proof of the damage. If you see trucks or heavy equipment damaging roads:
TREES For ecological reasons, Rover is prohibited from clearing trees anywhere along the pipeline route after March 31. If you observe Rover clearing trees after March 31:
BURNING BRUSH Rover has already been cited for burning without permission near homeower’s property. If you see burning activity contact the property owner to confirm permission has been given and proper permits obtained. If either has not, contact the authorities immediately.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The citizens also received a UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION from the Washtenaw County Commissioners on 6/28/2017 opposing the misroute that entrapped the Lake residents, camps, and visitors.
"There was a huge government failure here," stated Commissioner Michelle Deatrick.
FERC STONEWALL: Despite the Motions and Letters to FERC and the Army Corps of Engineers, FERC thus far has not responded to us or our Senators that the construction be halted until investigated.
Motions and letters to and from FERC:
Maps:
FERC FEIS: