Thursday, November 16, 2017

FERC Meeting Disrupted by Renowned Actor, Anti-Pipeline Protestors


Washington, D.C. - Protesters were removed from today’s monthly Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) meeting after speaking out against the commission’s controversial effort to force the construction of the Millennium Valley Lateral Pipeline, even without securing the required New York 401 Water Quality Certificate.

The protest was led by Actor James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential, The Green Mile, Six Feet Under) and Pramilla Malick, chair of the New-York-based group “Protect Orange County.” Both were removed from the building. Footage of Cromwell addressing FERC representatives and his removal are available here.  


Green America, the nation’s leading green economy organization, and Seeding Sovereignty, an anti-fracking group, also participated in the action.

 James Cromwell

The pipeline project would require the installation of approximately 7.8 miles of 16 inch lateral pipeline between Millennium’s mainline and the CPV Valley Energy Center in Orange County, New York. FERC’s controversial efforts to force legal authorization for the pipeline are especially dangerous because they could establish a very bad precedent.

"FERC is a rapacious and reckless agency which is an existential threat to all sentient beings. They don't give a FERC about air, water, the law, protected eagles, endangered species, or people,” said Cromwell. “They especially don't give a FERC about the climate. No single entity is more responsible for climate change than FERC. They have blood on their hands and must be stopped."

“Minisink was the first community to come to FERC 6 years ago,” said Malick. “We engaged the process faithfully only to learn that this agency does not serve the public interest but rather enables an industry with an egregious sense of entitlement. FERC's approvals routinely violate federal laws as well as the fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, FERC's current showdown with the State of New York demonstrates the agency's absolute contempt for state authority and the environmental protections established to protect our air and water.  They expect us to drink and breathe gas, but we, the people, will fight for our air and water!"

Lee Ziesche of Seeding Sovereignty, said, “FERC's approval of the Valley Lateral fracked gas pipeline threatens everything I love. It means my home state of Pennsylvania will continue to be fracked to bits. It means my current home in Brooklyn is at even greater risk from climate change. As a millennial who cares deeply about the future of our world and the communities being devastated by fracked gas infrastructure, I have no choice but to stand up against FERC's blatant disregard for the health and safety of New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians and the planet.”

Source:
Beyond Extreme Energy

No comments: