Albany area opposition to natural gas pipeline grows

ALBANY — As the deadline draws nearer for a federal ruling on a proposed $3 billion natural gas pipeline expected to run through a portion of Dougherty County — a pipeline and compressor station called a “monstrosity” by one Albany resident Monday — a growing coalition of area residents is mounting a concerted effort to stop construction of the 465-mile project that will deliver natural gas from central Alabama to central Florida.

Local anti-pipeline activists joined the Radium Springs Neighborhood Association Monday in asking the Dougherty County Commission to facilitate a meeting with state and federal officials and agencies to discuss local concerns about the pipeline. The group also asked the commission during a work session to enact a noise ordinance that would impact a proposed compressor station that would be built in the county.

Others present at Monday’s meeting included state Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, State Rep.-elect Darrel Ealum, Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, Albany City Commissioners Jon Howard and B.J. Fletcher, as well as Dougherty School Board member Velvet Riggins, Dougherty Commissioner-elect Anthony Jones and School Board member-elect Dean Phinazee.

“You can imagine my shock and awe, for lack of a better word, when I learned that this monstrosity of a compressor station is being considered in our neighborhood (just off Newton Road),” Sonya Andralliski said. “We just commemorated 9-11, and this pipeline could potentially have a similar type correlation. Just as the terror attacks were about uninvited visitors wreaking havoc on our land, this pipeline could be just as detrimental if something bad happens.”

Radium Neighborhood Secretary Nancy Barclay initially asked the County Commission to encourage Gov. Nathan Deal to join with local citizens in asking Spectra Energy officials to reconsider the pipeline route that would place a high-impact compressor station in a densely populated area of Dougherty County. Before the discussion closed, though, Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard had appointed County Attorney Spencer Lee to “quarterback” efforts to invite a number of state and federal officials to a joint Dougherty County/Albany City commission meeting that would be called to discuss the issue.

“I see Sen. Sims is here this morning and Representative-elect Ealum,” Sinyard said. “I’d like to ask if you and other members of our local delegation would head up efforts to encourage the governor to be part of a joint city/county meeting. And Dot — excuse me, Mayor Hubbard — if you think the City Commission would join us for a special meeting, we could hold it in Room 100 (of the Government Center) and invite some of these agencies to discuss matters of concern with us.”

Various officials and citizens suggested asking representatives of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the state Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, the Army Corps of Engineers and Spectra Energy, which will build the pipeline, to attend the meeting. Sinyard directed Lee to write letters asking for involvement of the state and federal agencies and to draw up a proposed noise ordinance.

In her presentation to the board, Barclay said, “Spectra Energy has a terrible safety, environmental and transparency record, including $15 million in penalties from the EPA for pipeline spills at 89 sites.” She also cited a Kentucky Circuit Judge’s ruling denying a private company the right to condemn property in that state to transport “hazardous liquids” through Kentucky to the Gulf Coast.

Yvonne Reese expressed concern over the compressor station’s proposed location near a densely populated area, and Jennifer Maloney said health risks and possible contamination of the area’s water supply are among area citizens’ primary reasons for opposing the pipeline.