Mary Shanklin of the Orlando Sentinel has written an article on Wed. Sept. 9, 2015 about the Sabal Trail pipeline soon to be buried in Florida. The original article in the Orlando Sentinel can be read at this link.
Natural-gas pipeline to Florida draws environmental concerns
A Florida environmental group has joined the opposition against a $3 billion natural-gas pipeline that would extend from Alabama through Georgia and into Central Florida.
Environmental opponents have already issued pipeline concerns to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the federal government. A state administrative-hearing officer will oversee the WWAL group’s complaint, although a date hasn’t been set. On Friday, the federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a draft environmental-impact statement on the project.
Proposed in 2013, the pipeline would transport fuel for Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy Florida. Together with Duke, Spectra Energy and NextEra Energy Inc. are seeking federal permits by early next year, with construction expected to start on the pipeline in a year. As proposed, the pipeline would start operating in 2017.
Duke has stated the pipeline would benefit its Florida customers by supplying a “stable, reliable supply of low-cost natural gas” to generate electricity.
At this point, the project is on schedule, and about half of the tracts of property needed across a 500-mile corridor have been purchased, said Andrea Grover, a spokesperson for the pipeline.
In the Orlando region, the 36-inch diameter pipe will be laid at least 3 feet underground. Grover said it would run along parts of the Lake/Sumter county line, through about 22 miles of Lake and Osceola counties and southwest of Kissimmee to a compressor station at Reunion.
Quarterman said his group has concerns about some of the land that has been purchased. The buyers, he said, have failed to note all of the springs and sinkholes, where pollution could more easily leach into the water supply.
mshanklin@tribpub.com or 407-420-5538
