Category Archives: Ohio

Duke Delays Formal Application — Now What?

On June 29th Duke put the brakes on its Central Corridor Pipeline extension proposal, as it tries to find “the best possible route”.    While they are not filing a formal application with the Ohio Power Siting Board until the end of summer, we fear our concerns still aren’t being heard.

Media reports suggest that Duke is not considering major route changes to less densely-populated areas.  We believe the company will only make minor changes, if any, and is waiting for the furor to die down.  Duke is contacting some municipal leaders in an attempt to smooth some ruffled feathers.  We are not privy to behind the scenes negotiations taking place, if in fact there are any.

It is essential that we continue keep the pressure on Duke and State/Local leaders who are not committed to keeping this pipeline out of densely populated areas.  Unless they choose to employ another delay tactic, Duke must file their formal application by September 15th.

When Duke files their Formal Application, a new phase in the pipeline approval process begins.  During the Formal Application Phase, OPSB continues to accept public feedback on the pipeline.  This feedback is combined with testimony from public hearings, later in the application process.

 

 

Pipelines near our schools are a burning issue

When our children get on the bus in the morning, are we sending them to a safe place?

updated 5.2.2017

Have you ever heard of a School Safety Zone?  It is like a protective layer around schools (and daycare centers), designed to keep dangers away from our children.  In the State of Ohio, the School Safety Zone is 1,000 feet.  Registered sex offenders are not allowed within 1,000 feet of your child’s school.  Also, it is a felony offense to possess dangerous weapons or sell illegal drugs in the School Safety Zone in our state.

However, you may be surprised to learn that there are no laws to keep dangerous hazards like Duke’s huge expressway for natural gas away from the very place that should be safe for every child in Ohio — school.    When it comes to gas pipelines, there is NO School Safety Zone, but there should be…

That’s because if your child’s school is less than 1/4 mile away from Duke’s proposed transmission line, they are vulnerable to serious harm if there should be a pipeline failure*. When a high pressure pipeline ignites, there are flashes of heat that are unbelievably intense.  For a 20″, 500 psi pipeline, anyone within 1020 feet of the explosion is in peril of becoming severely burned, simply from the heat radiating off of the explosion.

Even with safety precautions in place, pipelines can and do fail.  Backhoes, weld failures and even Mother Nature compromise pipelines, every year.  If a failure were to happen along Duke’s transmission line, the consequences would be catastrophic and devastating.

There are over 25 schools and daycare centers within the dangerous burn zone along the preferred and alternate routes.  

What you need to do NOW:

SIGN OUR PETITION TO OHIO LEGISLATURE

  1. Contact families you know with children in the schools and daycare centers listed on the preferred and alternate pipeline routes.  Make them aware of this dangerous safety hazard.
  2. Contact the schools and daycare centers to make sure they are aware of the pipeline.  Ask them to send letters to parents so they can communicate with their government leaders.
  3. Communicate with Governor Kasich, State Senator Bill Seitz and the Ohio Power Siting Board to let them know a pipeline this close to our children’s schools is not acceptable.
  4. Contact Duke Energy about putting a pipeline of this size next to our schools and daycare centers.
*According to Pipeline Association for Public Awareness

Todd Portune recognizes NOPE!’s efforts as “one of the greatest citizen uprisings against bad decision making…”

We are humbled by the recognition given to NOPE! by Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune.  Commissioner Portune, who has been an unfailing NOPE! supporter from the first, describes our work as “one of the greatest citizen uprisings against bad decision making that I have seen in my career in public service.”  He goes on to say that because of our effort, Duke Energy has called a halt to their efforts and imposed a delay to consider information that we have brought to light.

Certainly the original Tangleridge neighbors in Blue Ash deserve a lot credit for having the conviction to say “not in my backyard or yours”.  They worked tirelessly to engage and inform leaders and citizens across Hamilton County.  However, this effort evolved from a small team of individuals, to a coalition of 14 communities uniting against one of the wealthiest, most powerful companies in United States to say NOPE!  A pipeline of this size and scale does not belong in our neighborhoods, next to our schools, near our places of worship or where we work and play.

We have a lot of work ahead of us, and need all of our communities to continue to make their voices heard.  There are leaders who are hearing us now, and doing everything they can to help.  However, there are other leaders who may not understand that we hold them accountable for the safety of our communities.  We expect them to be actively involved to insure that if additional infrastructure is needed to meet the needs of our communities, it is developed and installed in a way that actually does meet the needs of our communities.

Read Todd Portune’s Letter to learn more about the work being done to impact the Duke’s pipeline.

Ohio Reo. Jonathan Dever meets with residents

On Saturday, April 30th, Ohio Rep. Jonathan Dever met with some residents of Blue Ash to listen to their concerns.  In that meeting Rep. Dever committed to help get answers and facilitate a meeting with key stakeholders so that communities affected by the proposed Central Corridor Pipeline could be heard.rep Johnathon Dever listens to pipeline safety concerns expressed by Blue Ash residents

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