Two quick items for landowners and citizens who do not want to see the ET Rover project ripping through our state and who do not want to see yet more private property taken for corporate profits:
First, Keith Matheny this week ran an excellent and very important story in the Detroit Free Press on ET’s argument to FERC just two years ago that additional natural gas supply in this region is not needed. It’s a version of the story we ran here a couple weeks ago. ET Rover appears to have no real answer to this obvious contradiction and appears to be pretending like it doesn’t exist. In our view, Matheny’s story isn’t getting nearly the kind of attention it deserves. After all, FERC is going to be persuaded to deny this application, ET Rover’s about face is in all likelihood going to be a crucial part of the argument, perhaps the most crucial part. Please share the Free Press story widely. Tell everyone about it.
Secondly, our friends over in Brandon Township are holding a citizens’ meeting for people concerned about ET Rover. This is not a company-sponsored event; it’s organized by concerned citizens and landowners. If you’re worried, please consider attending. And bring copies of the Detroit Free Press and the blog story we just mentioned. Everyone needs to know about it! The meeting is July 24 at 7 pm at the library, 304 South Street, Ortonville.
You need a date on the Brandon Township meeting…
We need to take a lesson from others that have organized (besides Brandon township which has been such a great David to the pipeline Goliaths). See: https://bangordailynews.com/2014/07/21/news/portland/south-portland-council-casts-historic-vote-to-block-tar-sands-exports/
Rover is welcome to come through my property parallel to enbridge pipeline because i had a great experience and i don’t mind another great experience with Rover……their surveyors were very nice and did what they were supposed to yesterday!! they also want it to be a cruel free experience like enbridge
Will you be happy when the Enbridge pipeline leaks and the ET Rover explodes? I won’t.
The two Rover trucks doing surveys do not have Michigan plates!
Soline glad to see someone is happy with thier experance with Enbridge. The other 99% of us are still dealing with an unresponsive company that cares only for their bottom line.
I’ve decided that the fracking natural gas and tar sands pipelines are too hazardous to the environment and that since my religion includes honoring God’s creations it is against my religion to have a pipeline on my property. Honestly.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/05/21/3440075/pope-francis-if-we-destroy-creation-creation-will-destroy-us/
I live in Washtenaw county in which ET Rover plans to follow DTE Energy power-lines, i.e., digging on DTE Energy property, tearing through swamps and destroying other animal habitats. What happened to DTE’s claim to protect the environment?
Ask ET Rover survey crew to leave my property this morning. They complied as I told them I would be calling the police. I have since found out a rumor that ET Rover plans on getting Enbridge to give them access to Enbridge’s easements. ET Rover has already been creeping around surveying without permission where ever they can. I some how sense a little under handedness going on.
Good for you! The rumor is troubling. Can you tell me where you learned it? Backchannel, if you prefer?
A person at my home was told by one of ET Rovers survey crew that ET Rover was in process of getting access from Enbridge. ET Rovers representative also told us we were considered a NO and that ET Rover would be starting process 2 on us. Needless to say I’m upset. This company is not going to play fair at all. Underhanded and sneaky.
Thanks. But be wary: you really can’t believe anything these land agents say. Seriously. And what in the world is “process 2”? It’s just intimidation tactics. Don’t be cowed! You are well within your rights!
What happens when a landowner refuses permission for ET Rover to cut through his/her property?
Do you mean refuses to give them permission to do a survey? If so, then nothing happens, really– not at this point. But if you mean refuses them permission to install the pipeline, that’s different. If the route is approved by FERC, Rover will have the power of eminent doman and landowners will not have the option of refusing permission; they’ll be forced by law to let Rover use their land. That’s why it is so important to speak up now.
Thank you for the info. At first, during the open house meeting in Chelsea, I was shown maps depicting the proposed gas-line following the Edison corridor, i.e., being placed on Edison property which borders my land. But now I received a letter from ET Rover that the line will cut through my property. I responded in writing that I will not permit any survey, nor digging and placing the proposed pipeline on my property.
How do I contact FERC? What would be the most effective way to be heard? Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Good for you!
Here’s how you comment at FERC:
Go to: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp
Click on the eComment button, which takes you to an authorization page.
Enter your name and email address, and type in the “authorization” letters / numbers that appear.
Click on authorize.
FERC will send you an email.
Click on the link in the email.
It will lead to a page on the FERC website with your name and email filled in.
In the field for “Enter Docket Number” type PF-14-14
Click on the Search button and wait a moment for a response.
Click on the blue cross in the far right column under the heading labelled “Select”
A box for entering the comment appears. It lets you enter up to 6000 characters.
It’s best if you type up your comment before, and just copy and paste it into this box.
Click on Send Comment
You can also subscribe to the docket, which allows you to get notices of other people’s comments, which you can read.
Jeff,
Thank you so much for your good info. I will follow through on it.
To all folks out there:
Please oppose this planned gas pipe-line. Michigan has nothing to gain by allowing ET Rover to tear through our beautiful State.
K Haupfuar,
I am curious if Jeff Daniels showed up for any ofvthe meetings against ET Rover? Seems like his celebrity status might help influence others and spread the word?
I have caught survey crews at two different locations, told them to get off my property they do NOT have permision to survey, they are sneaky slimmy just like Enbridge
Just for the record I would do anything to stop this proposed line, but has this ever been done or can this even be done. It just seems we are in the hands of our government on this issue and more then likely is impossible.
Pipelines can be rerouted and sometimes pipeline companies will withdraw their applications. Because regulators tend to be on the side of the companies, FERC probably isn’t very likely to deny the application. So, yes, it’s an uphill battle; the deck is stacked against ordinary citizens, etc. However, this we know for certain: if nobody speaks up, there is ZERO chance this pipeline project will be stopped or re-routed. If lots of people and municipalities do speak up, there is a chance that it will be stopped or re-routed. So as I see it, there is only one avenue to pursue.
According to ET Rover, the distance between their proposed gas pipeline and any dwelling must be at least 100 ft. DTE Energy did not give permission to trench on their property and follow the high voltage power lines. Only crossing underneath is allowed.
Please, can somebody verify this?
Did someone from ET tell you that about proximity to a dwelling? If so, they were NOT telling you the truth. There are absolutely NO federal guidelines or regulations for the distance a transmission gas line can be from a dwelling. None. Zero. They CAN put a gas line within 100 feet of a dwelling, even much closer.
Can you explain what you are saying about DTE Energy? And where did you hear that?
-Jeff
Today my husband contacted Debra Carter, she put him in touch with someone else who told him that the proposed pipeline is no longer in our area (Rose twp). He was told that it now runs through Genesee and Lapeer. Hubby wasn’t sure if this was a bait and switch tactic…Our neighbors to the South did tell us that ET does not have permission to use the powerline easement, they were told this by a surveyor (which was the excuse to run the pipeline through their driveway).
And the rumor mill grinds and grinds and grinds. Thank you. We’ll see what, if anything, we can verify about any of this.
Jeff, do you happen to know how long the comment period is?
Kelly, you can comment at any time during this pre-filing period. According to ET, they plan to file their application January 2015. Having said that, the sooner people comment, the better.
I was told today by my land agent that the pipeline route has been changed. It will not be crossing my property. (near the airport in Howell). However, he made it clear that this information could change at anytime. When I asked him about the new route, he said he didn’t know. I wonder when they will know!
Thanks, Linda. I’ve heard the same from several others. I’m in the process of trying to obtain more information. But it does appear that the route has changed. We’ll see.
ET Rover has started asking for permission to survey my land in Lapeer Twp. I refused. No my neighbors and I need to get up to speed quickly on how to try to fight this. Been doing a lot of reading and searching. Would love to know why they re-routed and how to get them to decide to go somewhere else. Just sucks that someone will get stuck with this.
Ted, sorry to hear this. But I’m glad you refused permission. I hope your neighbors are doing the same. There’s no way to know for sure why they re-routed (Rover won’t be straight about it), but in all likelihood it’s because of all the resistance: landowners refusing permission to survey, comments of opposition submitted to FERC, and townships passing resolutions of opposition. The same thing needs to happen up in your area. And if that happens in the right way, NOBODY will have to get stuck with this. The argument to make is that this pipeline is NOT a “public necessity.” Please see my post titled “ET Rover’s Unnecessary Land Grab,” which explains.
The property of one of my neighbors whose house sits in close proximity to the DTE Energy power lines was surveyed by ET Rover agents. Being worried about having the proposed gas pipeline either underneath the high voltage lines or very close to her house, she called the ET Rover hotline and was told that from ET Rover’s top management the directive was given that the gas pipeline has to be at least 100 ft. from any dwelling. My neighbor was also told that ET Rover can only cross DTE Energy easements, but has no permission to parallel the power lines on DTE Energy property.
This is all hear-say, I have not been able to verify that ET Rover was truthful to my neighbor.
Our neighbors were also told by an ET Rover surveyor that ET did not have permission to use the existing power line easement. However, our neighbors were told that because ET could not utilize the existing easement, they would then parallel the power lines on our neighbor’s property. Needless to say the denied the survey, this proposed line would have split their 15 acres right in half.
Jeff, the entire route has change or is it just certain areas from what you have heard?
At this point, I can’t say for sure– and ET Rover isn’t really saying yet. It certainly isn’t the entire route, but it’s a question of how many areas are being re-routed. I’m still trying to find out.
I spoke with Jim Carter on 8/18, was told that the route is “fluid” at this point, so there is no definitive path. However, I was told that the route may still be in our area, although ET is “pushing to be farther north, because that is where they want to be.” I find it strange though, on Sunday we witnessed a helicopter flying low over our property. It followed the exact path of the original proposed route!! We’ve never had so much helicopter traffic until yhis summer!!
Have you noticed how careful ET Rover personnel is answering our questions? So far I have not heard a definite ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I believe their intend is to calm us down, and to keep us quite. I don’t trust anything they say!
I really have noticed that! When I first started calling trying to get more information on this pipeline (June)I was told with certainty that it does not cross my property, but it will be roughly 100 feet away on our neighbor’s property. Then a couple of weeks ago I was told that the route isn’t configured yet, that somehow it has shifted and they cannot say with certainty where it is or when it will be determined. Without a doubt I do not trust this company, I do not believe anything has changed in the route. I am bothered by this everday, how landowners are faced with private corporations that have the ability to exert governmental power to obtain property and how they damage the environment in the process!
I am equally bothered, Kelly! At this point, they seem to be floundering and looking for the path of least resistance. That’s why Michiganders (and Ohioans) need to tell FERC to stop this pipeline altogether, not just to re-route it!
That is exactly their intent. It’s important NOT to let them keep us quiet!
Yesterday. I called Jim Carter from ET Rover, asking him why we do not get a straight answer about exact location of this proposed pipeline. Told him about all the headache and sleepless nights this is causing. He told me that it is NOT up to ET where the line is going. He said that this decision is totally up to FERC. They will determine the exact route.
I was told the exact same thing. ET doesn’t want to look like the bad guy.
What Jim Carter is telling you is not true. FERC does not determine the route. The approve (or not) Rover’s route. FERC may require Rover to make certain specific modifications, based on any number of factors, but when ET Rover files an application, that application includes a route that ET Rover is asking to have approved.
Yeah, I was looking into the application process at FERC after Jim Carter told me that.I trust no one involved with this project.
We have been in the process of buying a house and learned a couple days ago that it is in the proposed route of ET Rover as of Aug. 26th. We are concerned and are trying to decide whether or not to continue with the purchase (supposed to close this week!) From those of you who have been through this experience – what are your thoughts on buying a property knowing this battle awaits?
Run and don’t look back.
Has anyone in Lapeer County heard anymore about organizing a group of Citizens Against ET Rover Pipeline? I know there was a gentleman at the meeting in Metamora this week taking names and contact info. We need to keep on this!
Meanwhile I will be out pounding the pavement tomorrow with more flyers and handouts. I have received permission to leave flyers at various locations in Davison and Lapeer and have a couple more spots in mind tomorrow. I will keep everyone informed.