“The retreat brings people together, builds community in the forest, gets participants outside and off their screens, and uses nature sustainably to heal and inspire minds and souls,” stated Great Mountain Forest Executive Director Michael Zafros. Retreat registration closes on July 30.
Superior Court Judge John Agostini had ruled that federal law trumps state law in such cases and applied eminent domain, allowing Tennessee Gas to have the easement in Otis State Forest, despite Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, that protects old-growth forests from development.
Over the years, Laurel Scott has emerged as one of the nation's leading experts in immigrant waivers, publishing articles on the subject and speaking at events for immigration lawyers.
That sacred Native American sites are along the path is just the latest controversy over the pipeline in Otis State Forest. Tennessee Gas is still tied up in court with environmental groups over potential harm to water and animal habitats; the company reneged on a deal to give the town of Sandisfield $1 million for wear and tear to its roads and reimburse legal fees.
The announcement said the easement for Tennessee Gas’ Connecticut Expansion Project will include environmental mitigation, recreational improvements and securing additional conservation land.
The Kinder Morgan subsidiary had negotiated with Sandisfield town officials, drafting a contract that said it would give the town $1 million to fix roads and other town infrastructure damaged by company equipment. The company walked away when it was time to sign that contract.
Tennessee Gas plans to use millions of gallons from Spectacle Pond to flush out newly installed pipes, raising concerns about chemicals from the pipes being released into the environment.
Kinder Morgan is backpedaling on assurances to Sandisfield that it would pay roughly $1 million to cover road and other infrastructure damage and pay the $30,000 in legal bills the town racked up negotiating with company attorneys.
At the same time, Kinder Morgan, the Fortune 500 corporation, is showing signs of reneging on $1,080,000 in compensation promises to the town of Sandisfield.
An EdgeCast, “Sandisfield Pipeline: This story isn’t over,” is contained within this article.
“The Attorney General’s Office did reach out to us, and is considering an appeal. We’re just waiting to see what happens next … the Judge stated in the courtroom that he anticipated that this would be appealed.”
---- Sandisfield Town Manager Alice Boyd
This particular case has far-reaching implications since the land in question is protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts state Constitution. But this proposed pipeline may be unaffected by the demise of the far larger, $3.3 billion Northeast Direct pipeline project to the north across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Massachusetts is unique among 50 states in that it creates a special conservation protection for land … some areas are so important that they have to be protected by the Legislature.
--- Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Matthew Ireland
The situation in Sandisfield is fast becoming a precedent-setting testing ground for the power and teeth of Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution that preserves state-protected land. That’s why the Attorney General is now involved.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is now requiring, among other things, clarification “that Tennessee would not fell trees in areas where it has not obtained an easement or purchase of property…including lands protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts State Constitution.”
“This is very exciting news. While very few people see the need for this gas line, all that we have ever asked of Kinder Morgan and FERC is to follow the process, be open and be fair to this beautiful community of 800 residents."
-- State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli
“This is a case of a forest of clean air machines being literally traded for the transmission of fossil fuels. Not a step in the right direction.”
-- Arborist Tom Ingersoll, on the Kinder Morgan proposal to cut a swathe through protected old-growth forests in Sandisfield to build a natural gas pipeline extension to Connecticut
