[ShareTompkins] Fwd {SRBCNetwork} Local Residents Deploy President's Day Civil Disobedience to Stop Tennessee Pipeline Construction

[Gregdov]

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Subject: Re: {SRBCNetwork} Local Residents Deploy President's Day Civil Disobedience to Stop Tennessee Pipeline Construction
From: deer dra <theonlydeirdre at gmail.com>
To: GREGDOV at GMAIL.COM
CC: Re: {SRBCNetwork} Local Residents Deploy President's Day Civil Disobedience to Stop Tennessee Pipeline Construction

On Feb 18, 2013 7:46 AM, "Alex Lotorto" <alotorto at gmail.com> wrote:
PLEASE SHARE WIDELY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jolie DeFeis
Pike County Resident
Media Liaison for "Stop The Tennessee Pipeline!" campaign
Co-Founder, www.savecumminshill.com

Alex Lotorto
Pike County Resident
570-269-9589

Local Residents Deploy President's Day Actions and Civil Disobedience to Stop Tennessee Pipeline Construction

MILFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Early this morning, two local youth engaged in civil disobedience by locking themselves through the Delaware State Forest gate that is being used by pipeline workers to clear cut trees for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Northeast Upgrade construction. (Photos attached)

Allison Petryk, of Vernon, NJ and Alex Lotorto, of Milford, PA plan to remain at the gate at the end of Schocopee Road throughout the work day to prevent access by tree clearing crews. Tree clearing began on Friday within twenty four hours of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Notice to Proceed. 

At 10AM, residents from throughout the impacted area of Pennsylvania and New Jersey will rally at George Feighner's home across from Milford in Montague, NJ. Mr. Feighner is 86-years old and had his property eminent domained by FERC's decision as he remains in legal appeals. Tree clearing up to his home commenced on Friday morning. (Video and Photo)

The new Loop 323 is meant to add more volume to the Tennessee Pipeline system to service Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling using the controversial "fracking" method and, most likely, new gas-fired power plants or gas exports. Loop 323 will stretch from Milford to Vernon as additional pipeline loops continue to be constructed elsewhere to the east and west.

Other than judges, the final decision to stop the clear cutting and open a new review lies with the voting members of the Delaware River Basin Commission. Members include Democrat President Obama who, in his State of the Union Address, stated that his "administration will keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits." In order to force President Obama to make good on his promise, the reinforced PVC pipe lockbox is wrapped in red ribbon, which the police would inevitably cut to remove the blockaders and arrest them. All FERC commissioners have been either appointed or re-appointed by President Obama.

The site is along a public road which offers public parking within the shoulder and a legal place to stand at a distance, but in view of the blockade.

Allison Petryk wrote the following personal statement regarding the action, "I was born and raised in Vernon, NJ, where the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Loop 324 has already impacted my community and where Loop 323 will end when it's finished. After graduating from Ramapo College with a degree in Environmental Studies I became an Outdoor Environmental Educator at the Pocono Environmental Education Center in the spring and summer of 2008. During this time I fell in love with Pike County and the bountiful hiking and the beautiful vistas. The Tennessee Pipeline is a major artery for the monster that is the Marcellus Shale industry that will cut across the Delaware River valley with disrespect to the people here and valuable ecology we are meant to steward. The pipeline will give enormous incentive for use of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", proposed natural gas power plants like the one in Newark, compressor stations, and all related natural gas infrastructure. I encourage our decision makers to abandon the dead end of fossil fuels and seek to innovate our way toward a clean energy future."

Alex Lotorto wrote the following personal statement regarding the action, "Milford is my hometown, where I grew up, where I work, where I fish, where I hunt, and the place that I remain. We are not a resource colony of Washington, DC or Harrisburg. I took this action to blockade the construction of the Tennessee Pipeline Loop 323 upgrade today to stop the rapid industrialization of Pike County by natural gas infrastructure. Most of all, my trade as a landscaper has been to keep and make this place beautiful. Marcellus Shale drilling to our west has hit home with its pipelines here after two years of our local leaders' and neighbors' dissent and appeals. The Upper Delaware River region thrives on tourism, recreation, real estate, agriculture, and the scenic value of our land. My mother, who recently passed, sold many homes and properties along the roads this right of way will cross as a realtor. She helped hundreds of families fall in love with our area and move here, which paid to clothe and feed me as a child. The short term boost to our bars and hotels as the workers come in from around the country will never replace the long term losses to our rural heritage industries as this pipeline scars our land. I stand in solidarity with every working family now impacted by the massive, trillion dollar Marcellus Shale gas industry. I hope our nation realizes these are the tragedies we support when we elect dirty energy politicians like Barack Obama."

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The SRBC Network Google Group is a coordinating network engaging organizations and citizens in PA, NY, and MD to facilitate both action and policy-focused work around the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, with a focus on near-term, specific “asks” and efforts.
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