HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2014.08.20 - 21457Miscellaneous Resolution # 14202
BY: Commissioner Michael Spisz, District #3_; Bc6 4446AL-4,1
RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS —SUPPORT OF REROUTING THE PROPOSED ET
ROVER PIPELINE
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the proposed route of the ET Rover pipeline through Oakland County will result in
significant property damage and economic loss through populated areas; and
WHEREAS no net long term economic benefit will result from the disruption caused by the ET
Rover pipeline construction; and
WHEREAS the pipeline is merely a "pass through" and will provide not supply energy to
Oakland County residents and does not supply natural gas to Michigan citizens beyond the
MichCon delivery point in Livingston County; and
WHEREAS the construction of the pipeline will have a significant impact on private
landowner's property with the pipeline needing a 50 foot permanent right of way and an
additional 50 feet during the construction process according the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission; and
WHEREAS if an amicable agreement cannot be reached, the utilities have the ability to seek
to take private property through eminent domain; and
WHEREAS the Charter Township of Brandon, the Township of Groveland and other local
governments have adopted resolutions in opposition to current proposed route and placed
these objections on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and
WHEREAS the headwaters to the Flint River and Clinton River watersheds fall within the
proposed route of the pipeline and a rupture to the line could have devastating effects on
bodies of water that millions of people rely upon; and
WHEREAS a utility accident as recently as 2010 in Marshall, Michigan polluted 25 miles of the
Kalamazoo River and cost more the $1 billion in clean-up costs to date; and
WHEREAS the communities along the route have invested heavily in protecting the natural
features such as woodlands and wetlands that would be heavily disrupted by the proposed
route; and
WHEREAS the population of the communities in Oakland County along the proposed route
have experienced rapid population growth and are no longer rural in nature; and
WHEREAS communities with less population and fewer sensitive resources are within a
reasonable distance to the north; and
WHEREAS the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is now hearing comment on the
proposed route it is appropriate for Oakland County to take action to protect citizen's property
rights and our natural resources.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Oakland County shall express its support in
comment for re-routing the proposed ET Rover pipeline before the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission be informed of
the sensitive nature resources in the current proposed route of the ET Rover pipeline, the
number of citizens and waterways that would be effected by a potential environmental
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contamination in the Flint and Clinton River watersheds, and data regarding the property
values that would be effected.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of
this resolution as a comment before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and sent to
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, U.S. Representative Mike Rogers,
Governor Rick Snyder, Senator Dave Robertson, Representative Brad Jacobson, Oakland
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Oakland County Townships along the proposed
pipeline route.
Chairperson, I move tip adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
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Resolution #14202 August 20, 2014
The Vice-Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.