When the ET Rover project first came to light back in July, we immediately called and wrote to several ET Rover representatives to try and obtain some basic information. Those efforts largely failed. After some effort, we were finally able to communicate with a couple of people, though we never really received the information we were seeking. But we did take the opportunity to try and give the Rover project team some friendly advice. What we said was that, after a long and exhausting experience with Enbridge, people in Michigan are quite weary of (and wise to) the way pipeline companies communicate with landowners. We said that vague information, evasive answers, inaccuracies, and conflicting accounts of the kind we’ve grown accustomed to from Enbridge were not going to fly. We said that people simply weren’t going to tolerate it and that if ET Rover didn’t do better, they were going to have a very rough ride up here.
Well, those warnings have clearly gone unheeded. Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard all sorts of stories about the strange, inaccurate, and untrue things that Rover’s agents are telling landowners. And we’ve heard all kinds of rumor and speculation about alterations to the Rover route. But none of it– nothing– can really be verified. Rover just isn’t saying. Getting clear and straightforward information from them has been like pulling teeth.
And you don’t have to take our word for it. Just read the latest from the always-excellent Susan Bromley in the Brandon Citizen. She tried (as we did) to get to the bottom of the current rumor that the proposed Rover route has changed significantly. Here’s her account of how that went:
Vicki Granado, a public relations spokeswoman for ET Rover, would not confirm that the pipeline route had changed. On Wednesday, under repeated questioning, she maintained that the route is “a work in progress” and there will be no final route until all surveys are in.
Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma is even more blunt about the way ET Rover has been communicating with people and municipalities along the route (and this is the same Bob DePalma mind you, who seemed to have a very high tolerance for Enbridge’s p.r. flimflammery):
“I can’t get good answers from Rover, they’ve just done a deplorable job,” said DePalma. “Now they’ve hired PR people that are going to come out. I’ve been in marketing for more than 30 years and this is the worst managed project I’ve ever seen… Facts have been extremely difficult to get from Rover.”
These comments echo the many, many accounts we’ve been hearing from landowners about the unclear or misinformation they’ve been receiving. This is no way to make new friends and partners, that’s for sure. The result is a whole lot of frustration and mounting opposition to the ET Rover project. Just this week, another township supervisor, Bruce Township’s Richard Cory, said “We now have a unified force in how we feel about the pipeline. We don’t want this in Bruce Township.”
Having said all of that, unlike Bromley, we have been told by Rover that they’ve made some changes to the route (though they’re not saying what those changes are) and that they might be reaching out to additional townships and landowners. If that’s true, those landowners and townships are going to have to make their preferences known, to say no to survey requests, hold meetings, and pass resolutions opposing this project.
To that end, the next informational meeting for landowners and the public featuring the indefatigable Jeff Axt will take place in Oceola Township on Thursday, August 28 at 7 pm at the Oceola Township Hall.
I wonder when the surveying will be completed? Even then, I highly doubt that ET will be forthcoming with valid information.
Also, I check FERC.gov almost daily, looking for new comments and documents. I see that a few governmental agencies have been requested to join the application process. Is this to oversee that ET chooses the most eco-friendly route?
We woke up yesterday morning to find a notice on our doorstep that said our property was in line for the pipeline. Only thing is, the name at the top of the page said David, and he hasn’t owned the property for years. Are these people stupid??? And did they put the notice there in the middle of the night so they wouldn’t have to talk to us? This is sounding worse and worse to me.
Where do you live, Angela?
We live on Tubspring Road, off of Capac Road. The land agent came yesterday and my husband got to get a copy of the map where he said the pipe line is supposed to go. It’s not comimg by our property but close.
That area seems to be further north then the current 6b line.
Unhappy, it is a lot more north than what the map shows on their website.
The route seems to be all over the place from what was proposed at the meeting. I wonder if this line will even follow the line 6B and specifically Oceola township? This is crazy.
Angela, it looks like there is an existing easement just south of you. Is this the area they are proposing?
See my latest post for the current proposed route.
We were contacted on August 17 and we live in Lapeer Two. Did I read somewhere that there is a citizen meeting in Oxford this week?
MLive covered the “informational” meeting in Genesee County Tuesday night. Waiting to see what makes the paper about our meeting in Metamora last night. We had a great turnout and passed out a lot of literature. Many commented that was the best part of the meeting and more helpful than the information ET Rover had to offer. Very strong opinions against the pipeline and a solidarity of citizens looking to fight it! It was nice to see Senator Phil Pavlov and Representative Daley were there last night talking to citizens, as well as our Hadley Twp Supervisor Ernie Monroe. http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/09/confusion_frustration_linger_f.html