As previously reported in November 2022,, "FERC is expected to make its final decision on the GTN XPress proposal from TC Energy on February 16th, 2023.
TC Energy is the same company that owns the Keystone oil pipeline that had a major oil leak in mid-December 2022 in Washington County, Kansas. That spill in Kansas is now the second-largest spill of tar sands crude on U.S. soil according to radio station KCUR!(Note: This Keystone pipeline is not to be confused with the canceled Keystone XL pipeline project)
NPR reported that "Keystone has been the subject of 22 reported leaks since 2010, according to a Government Accountability Office report last year. With the Mill Creek case, it is now up to at least 23... Keystone's accident history has been similar to other crude oil pipelines since 2010, but the severity of spills has worsened in recent years," GAO said.
Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) is a 1,377-mile (2,216-km) pipeline system that transports Canadian natural gas to communities in Washington, Oregon, and California. The GTN Pipeline extends from British Columbia through Idaho and Washington into Oregon. It also connects in Malin, OR with the 305-mile Tuscarora Pipeline which opened in 2021 and goes through northern California and terminates in Wadsworth, Nevada, north of Reno. This is also owned by TC Energy.
"The proposed GTN XPressfracked gas pipeline expansion would significantly increase the flow of fracked gas through the Northwest,
The Columbia Riverkeepers is gathering comments for one final push to "demand that members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) listen to serious concerns raised by Attorneys General, Tribes, and community leaders throughout the Northwest." They have suggested wording to voice your concern and a form to fill out to
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is appointed by the U. S. senate In December 2022 Chairman Richard Glick left his post as Chairman and on January 3, 2023, President Biden named Willie L. Phillips as Acting Chairman. Phillips joined FERC in December 2021. Prior to the DCPSC, Acting Chairman Phillips served as Assistant General Counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), in Washington, D.C. Other Commissioners are" James P. Danly, Allison Clements, and Mark C. Christie,
Click here for FERC's Office of Public Participation procedures for how to file a comment.
All public FERC documents may be viewed online at the Commission’s website athttps://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/searchusing the eLibrary link.
Creation Justice Ministries Co-Executive Director Avery David Lamb offered a public comment at a January 12, 2023 EPA hearing on stronger methane pollution standards - here's a quote:
