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The Cascade: The Great Falls Group Newsletter
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Contents
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Holiday Party Potluck
Monday, Dec. 12, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Reston
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Great Falls Group Election
It's time for the Great Falls Group election to select members of the group's executive committee. All members of the Great Falls Group are eligible to vote.
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Photo by Cool Revolution |
Compressor Stations Coming to a Location Near You
What's the impact of a compressor station? Compressor stations are semi-permanent facilities that recompress natural gas as it travels through pipelines, a task that's required every 40 to 100 miles. Unfortunately, these stations pollute the air 24 hours a day as long as gas is flowing through the pipeline. Day-to-day emissions from compressor stations are highly episodic and can create periods of potentially extreme exposures. Compressor stations are major sources of air pollutants, including benzene,
hexane,
and formaldehyde, that raise potential health risks for those living nearby while offering no offsetting economic benefits. Indeed, they are associated with loss of tax revenue and economic development for the surrounding communities.
Tests on Stations Yield Disturbing Results
An interdisciplinary group of researchers in Texas collected air samples in residential areas near gas extraction and production facilities. They found that most areas had "atmospheric methane concentrations considerably higher than reported urban background concentrations," and many toxic chemicals were "strongly associated" with compressor stations.
One air sample collected near a compressor station in Arkansas contained 17 different volatile compounds.
A study by researchers at Boise State University and Colorado State University at Fort Collins modeled the potential impacts of compressor station noise on Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The study found that the sound of 64 compressors outside Mesa Verde elevated the sound level within the park by 34.8 decibels on average, and by 56.8 decibels on the side of the park located closest to the compressors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 55 decibels is the highest "safe noise level" to avoid damage to the human ear.
Loudoun Blowdown Raises Serious Concerns
Dominion created a stir in Loudoun County when it vented its Loudoun Compressor Station last Sept. 26; this venting is called a blowdown. Natural gas mixed with an odorant spread as far as 10 miles east and north of the station. The local police and fire departments received more than 100 emergency calls. A
compressor blowdown represents the single largest emission event during operations. A blowdown is an intentional or accidental release of gas through the blowdown valve that creates a 30- to 60-meter-high gas plume. Blowdowns, which are used to control pressure, can last as long as three hours.
New Compressors Proposed for Northern Virginia
Two years ago, Dominion promised no new compressor expansions would be forthcoming in the area. Now Dominion is breaking that promise with several projects:
- The Eastern Market Access project, which would add 7,000 horsepower of compression to the Loudoun Compressor Station. This project represents the third proposed expansion at its two compressor stations in Loudoun County in the last four years.
- In 2015, Dominion filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to install one new 8,000-horsepower compressor unit at the Leesburg Compressor Station as part of its Leidy South Project.
- Columbia Gas has filed an application with FERC for the WB Xpress project, which includes a new compressor station in Fairfax County. It will require installing two compressor units for a total of 6,400 horsepower. It will also make modifications to the existing Loudoun Compressor Station.
The public had an understanding that Dominion would not add new compression at either the Leesburg or Loudoun compressor stations. Dominion has not kept its word. If plans go forward for the proposed projects, more noxious gases will jeopardize the health and welfare of the residents who live near the compressor stations.
What You Can Do
Please voice your opposition to these compressor stations to the Fairfax and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and your state elected officials.
By Kirk A. Bowers, Professional Engineer
Pipelines Campaign Manager
Virginia Chapter, Sierra Club
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Scotts Run Cleanup
On National Make a Difference Day, October 22, the Great Falls Group of the Sierra Club hosted a cleanup of Scotts Run Stream Valley Park in Falls Church. Helping out were (L to R) Sierra Club members Susan Bonney, Peg Hausman, and Norbert Pink; Ken Quincy, vice chair of the Fairfax County Park Authority; Providence District Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth; Bruce Wyman; Carl Riemer; and the Reuling Family--Tim, Alexis, and Karma.
Supervisor Smyth welcomed volunteers and accepted a Sierra Club calendar. Smyth was instrumental in the club's efforts to secure the cooperation of the Fairfax County Park Authority,
which supplied trash bags for the project, and in publicizing the event.
Volunteers collected about 10 bags of litter, junk, plastic bags, and debris, including an antique cigarette and cigar ashtray, which the proud finders took home!
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Standing with Standing Rock
On November 15, hundreds of protestors against the Dakota Access pipeline sat in at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office and marched to a rally at the White House, where they were addressed by Senator Bernie Sanders.
In solidarity with members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, protestors spoke out against the Dakota Access pipeline, which would destroy sacred historical sites and cross under the Missouri River, endangering the tribe's sole water source. The Washington, D.C., action was part of a national "Day of Action" to demand halting pipeline construction or rerouting it. Erin Wise of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, led the demonstration. Speakers movingly told of their experiences at Standing Rock facing tear gas, rubber bullets, police dogs, and arrests. U.N. officials have denounced this treatment of Native American pipeline protesters as "inhuman."
At the Army Corps of Engineers, Maj. Gen. Donald Jackson came out and addressed the crowd, answered questions, and listened to Wise share her experience. LaDonna Brave Bull Allard of Cannon Ball told Jackson that her father and son are both buried on a hillside overlooking the confluence of the Cannon Ball and Missouri rivers and asked Jackson to block the proposed pipeline.
After demonstrators marched to the White House, Senator Bernie Sanders paid a surprise visit to the crowd and called on President Obama "to respect Native American rights, protect our water, and stop the Dakota Access pipeline any way you can."
To learn more about the Standing Rock opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline, visit the
NoDAPL website.
By Linda Brown
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Fairfax County Environmental Vision Update
Fairfax County has not revised its Environmental Vision document since 2007. This year, the Board of Supervisors realized that much of the vision needs updating due to important developments--above all, the accelerating threat of climate change.
The board's Environmental Vision is not binding, but it does serve as policy guidance for the county offices. The vision embraces two principles:
(1) that the conservation of limited natural resources must be interwoven into all government decisions, and
(2) that the board is committed to providing the necessary resources to protect our environment.
The update process started back in June, with an online survey and three public meetings. Participants were asked to identify deficiencies in the old vision statement and to provide new objectives. The online survey drew 284 responses, and about 75 people attended the public meetings. This participation came mainly from the environmental community, actively recruited by county staff and by the Sierra Club Great Falls Group. Respondents stressed the need for the county to address climate change by performing periodic greenhouse gas inventories, developing an action plan, and staffing up to meet the challenge.
The county has been exceptional at collecting responses, sharing status reports, and answering citizens' questions. Its
website for the update has been an outstanding information and communication tool for the community. Hopefully, this cooperative approach will be reflected in a final Environmental Vision document most citizens can support.
What You Can Do
County staff has been consolidating the comments and will unveil a new update of the vision for review in early 2017. This is where you, as a concerned resident, can be involved by submitting your viewpoint. Fairfax County wants wide participation in this review. Board Chair Sharon Bulova and other supervisors are expected to notify their newsletter subscribers when the new update is available for comment. We will also alert our members and friends as soon as information becomes available.
Citizens need to know the vision exists so they can help monitor its effectiveness--not only to the county's environmental sustainability initiatives and programs, but to all county activities. A Great Falls Group committee is forming to supply ideas, recommendations, and encouragement to the county's Environmental Quality Advisory Council and to the sustainability events of other county offices in the future. If you are interested in participating, please contact Norbert Pink.
By Norbert Pink
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The National Geographic Society has built an easy-to-use web interface where you can quickly find any 7.5 minute topographical map in the continental United States for downloading and printing. Each topo has been preprocessed to print on a standard home letter-size printer. These are the same topos that were printed by U.S. Geological Society (USGS) on giant bus-size presses. They're now available in multi-page PDFs that can be printed just about anywhere. They're prepackaged using the standard 7.5 minute, 1:24,000 base, except that:
- Page 1 is an overview map showing the topo in context.
- Pages 2 through 5 are the standard USGS topo cut in quarters to fit on standard printers.
- Hill shading has been added to each page of the PDF to help you visualize the topography.
The National Geographic website has an interactive map of the U.S. to locate the desired topo. You can either zoom in to your area of interest or use a search box.
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Featured Winter Hike
Difficult Run Stream Valley Trail is part of the Fairfax County Cross County Trail. You can begin near Colvin Run Mill (across Colvin Run Road from the mill, close to Rt. 7, past the Colvin Run septic site) or on Leigh Mill Road. This is an out and back hike, so you can turn around at any point, or continue on to the Potomac River at the southern tip of Great Falls Park.
Find a map on the Fairfax County website.
Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet!
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Get Outdoors with the Sierra Club
Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (SCPRO) is a special activities group of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. It organizes hikes and events year-round for the general public on behalf of the Sierra Club's chapter in Washington, D.C, and the Maryland and Virginia Chapters' groups in the Washington Metro Area. Volunteer leaders conduct the events, many of which include conservation, educational, or historical elements. For information about SCPRO and its upcoming events, visit the
SCPRO Events website. To obtain a free calendar subscription, inquire about becoming a SCPRO outings leader, or get answers to other questions, write to
info@sierrapotomac.org.
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Great Falls Group Executive Committee
The monthly meeting of The Great Falls Group (GFG) Executive Committee is open to all Sierra Club members. Contact Norbert Pink for meeting times and location. If you would like to help the group, please volunteer by contacting one of the following leaders or Norbert Pink.
Officers:
Committee Chairs:
Committee Support:
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Calendar of Events
Holiday Party Potluck, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Enjoy great food and drink, and socialize with like-minded people. Please bring a dish to share.
Location: National Wildlife Federation,
11100 Wildlife Center Dr., Reston
Sponsor: Sierra Club Great Falls Group
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