Pipeline opponents appeal to Montville trustees
Protestors ask elected officials to take stand against NEXUS Pipeline
Rev. Sharon Kiesel appeals to Montville Township trustees to join the opposition to the proposed NEXUS pipeline. Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK
MONTVILLE – Township trustees here heard another plea from opponents of the proposed NEXUS Pipeline to join them in opposing construction of the $2 billion project intended to carry natural gas across northern Ohio and Medina County.
Several members of the group Sustainable Medina County appeared at the Montville Trustees meeting Jan. 10 asking township officials to take a stand against the Nexus Pipeline.
Among them was retired minister Sharon Kiesel, who said she suffers from life-threatening reactions to chemicals in the environment.
“As one who ministers to those who have environmental illnesses, I consider the NEXUS Pipeline and its associated compressor station a life-and-death issue that crosses all political boundaries,” she said.
Kathie Jones, another pipeline opponent, said vapors which are likely to escape from the pipeline and proposed compressor station in Guilford Township pose a serious pollution threat that will harm all residents of the area, not just those with acute sensitivities to chemicals.
Kiesel suggested township trustees take a series of actions to help the people of this county:
• Learn more about the fracking industry and research done by groups not associated with the oil and gas industry
• Take a public stand against the pipeline as some other community leaders have done
• Support a state constitutional amendment that gives townships more power to govern themselves
• Support a county charter amendment that limits the rights of oil and gas companies and returns them to the people
Sustainable Medina County circulated petitions to place a county charter amendment on the ballot in 2015 and 2016 but both times the issue was removed from the ballot by Secretary of State Jon Husted, whose rulings on the issue were upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court.
A separate opposition group, Coalition to Reroute Nexus, has campaigned to have the NEXUS Pipeline route shifted south away from populated areas in Medina and Summit counties. Unlike, Sustainable Medina County, it does not seek to have the pipeline banned entirely.
Township Trustee Jeff Brandon said township officials have sent letters encouraging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reroute the pipeline away from residential developments in Montville. However, trustees have not stated uncategorical opposition to the project.
FERC is expected to make a final ruling on the pipeline proposal in mid-February. The project is being developed by Spectra Energy and consists of a 36-inch diameter pipeline carrying compressed natural gas 250 miles from wells in eastern Ohio to Windsor, Ontario. Along the way, it is expected to pass through parts of Wadsworth, Guilford, Montville, Lafayette, York and Litchfield townships.
Several members of the group Sustainable Medina County appeared at the Montville Trustees meeting Jan. 10 asking township officials to take a stand against the Nexus Pipeline.
Among them was retired minister Sharon Kiesel, who said she suffers from life-threatening reactions to chemicals in the environment.
“As one who ministers to those who have environmental illnesses, I consider the NEXUS Pipeline and its associated compressor station a life-and-death issue that crosses all political boundaries,” she said.
Kathie Jones, another pipeline opponent, said vapors which are likely to escape from the pipeline and proposed compressor station in Guilford Township pose a serious pollution threat that will harm all residents of the area, not just those with acute sensitivities to chemicals.
Kiesel suggested township trustees take a series of actions to help the people of this county:
• Learn more about the fracking industry and research done by groups not associated with the oil and gas industry
• Take a public stand against the pipeline as some other community leaders have done
• Support a state constitutional amendment that gives townships more power to govern themselves
• Support a county charter amendment that limits the rights of oil and gas companies and returns them to the people
Sustainable Medina County circulated petitions to place a county charter amendment on the ballot in 2015 and 2016 but both times the issue was removed from the ballot by Secretary of State Jon Husted, whose rulings on the issue were upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court.
A separate opposition group, Coalition to Reroute Nexus, has campaigned to have the NEXUS Pipeline route shifted south away from populated areas in Medina and Summit counties. Unlike, Sustainable Medina County, it does not seek to have the pipeline banned entirely.
Township Trustee Jeff Brandon said township officials have sent letters encouraging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reroute the pipeline away from residential developments in Montville. However, trustees have not stated uncategorical opposition to the project.
FERC is expected to make a final ruling on the pipeline proposal in mid-February. The project is being developed by Spectra Energy and consists of a 36-inch diameter pipeline carrying compressed natural gas 250 miles from wells in eastern Ohio to Windsor, Ontario. Along the way, it is expected to pass through parts of Wadsworth, Guilford, Montville, Lafayette, York and Litchfield townships.