Earth Week Community Updates and SSEP Information
Hi everyone! Happy Earth Week! I’m back this week with some community updates on Earth Day festivities this weekend and some more details on Haw River Assembly’s Involvement in stopping the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project.
This weekend, there are two amazing Earth Day events planned! Try to make it to one for community networking, crafts, music, vendors, and educational opportunities.
Saturday April 26th, 1-5pm, Hosted by Haw River Assembly and The Plant: Climate Action Fair
Saturday April 26th, 1-4pm, Hosted by The Office of Sustainability and Resilience: City of Greensboro Earth Day
Why does Haw River Assembly care about the proposed SSEP?
The proposed Williams-Transco SSEP begins in Oak Ridge, Guilford County, a part of the Haw River watershed. Landowners in Oak Ridge face the potential for some of the most severe health and safety impacts. Methane is a poisonous, undetectable gas that can explode without warning, and the Transco-Williams company has one of the worst safety records. As methane is pushed through pipelines at high pressure, it leaks and contaminates the air, water, and soil, contributing to harmful human health effects and hurting plants and animals
The proposed route crosses Reedy Fork Creek, which is a protected Water Supply watershed (The NC DEQ classifies this water as Nutrient Sensitive Water, part of our water supply). This is the headwaters of the City of Greensboro's three water supply reservoirs, Lake Higgins, Lake Brandt, and Lake Townsend.
Groundwater supplies could be severely impacted by blasting involved in the construction of the pipelines, coatings on the pipes, and solvents in the drilling processes. In addition to the drilling processes threatening groundwater contamination for well users, many hazardous sites are along this proposed route that, if disturbed, could exacerbate the risks of groundwater contamination. The proposed route crosses one Superfund site, 2 pre-regulatory, or unlined, landfills, 5 inactive hazardous waste sites, and dozens of underground storage tanks.
How will this pipeline construction affect Greensboro's water reservoirs? How will it affect any plans to expand Greensboro's water reservoirs and to meet the expected increase in water demand as our city grows? If there are water quality violations, who will pay for the cleanup?
Some asks for this week:
Go to nossep.org to learn more about the project and the impacts on Guilford County, our air, and our watersheds
Watch this news coverage of last Thursday’s work session with the Guilford County Commissioners: Pipeline problems: Guilford County commissioners hear concerns over water quality, explosion risk. Commissioners heard from Caroline Hansley, a Sierra Club Senior Organizer and Strategist, and Brenda Chaney, an impacted landowner from Oak Ridge.
If a Guilford resident, sign this petition to your commissioners: Guilford County Commissioners: Pass a NO SSEP Resolution!
Take care of yourselves and each other,
~ Aidan Loretz (they/them, she/her)
