Joe Kennedy, Stephen Lynch Oppose Fore River Compressor Station

BRAINTREE, MA — A proposed natural gas compressor station along the bank of the Fore River has passed all of the state's regulatory hurdles. Algonquin, the energy company behind the project, was given the green light to build the 7,700-horsepower facility, despite opposition from residents and elected officials on the South Shore because of environmental threats and and fears of a potential explosion. But the approval hasn't stopped U.S. Representatives Stephen Lynch, D-MA, and Joseph Kennedy III, D-MA, from reaching out to federal regulators to try to put an end to the project.

The congressmen wrote a joint letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee asking for a reconsideration, outright rejection of Algonquin's proposal. According to the "Natural Gas Act," the committee is required to evaluate any projects based on the public convenience and the merits of the project's necessity. In the letter, Lynch and Kennedy argued the need for the project has been put into question over the last several weeks.

"Over the last several weeks, at least three major utility companies that had bid for contracts to ship gas through the project have since withdrawn from the project altogether or stated they no longer need the project to fulfill existing gas delivery requirements to consumers," the letter read.

The letter also argued the congressmen are concerned the proposed compressor station isn't in compliance with Massachusetts Contingency Plan requirements for site contamination.

Katie Gronendyke, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said the project met all state and federal safety regulations prior to its approval. She said health impacts and air quality testing were large parts of the approval process, but Lynch and Kennedy argued Algonquin still hasn't created a permanent solution for disposing of contamination.

"In 2016, the proposed site was designated as an active 'Disposal Site,' and it is our understanding the developers have not yet achieved the required permanent solution," the letter read."Earlier this year, an audit conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a 'Notice of Noncompliance' to the developers following an audit of the developers' site assessment and cleanup activities."

Throughout election season Braintree officials and residents have told Patch they do not want the compressor station to be built because of environmental threats that could potentially come from it. Specifically, some have been worried about formaldehyde levels in the area, and that building a massive compressor station will only exacerbate concerns. Others have expressed fears of potential explosions.

"To be honest I'm upset," Town Councilor David Ringius told Patch. "This has been an ongoing battle for the residents of east Braintree and all of Braintree. The state continues to push forward and doesn't want to address any of the concerns the residents or local officials have brought up.

Ringius said this isn't an issue that just the council, mayor or residents of Braintree can solve. He said residents, incoming and outgoing officials, as well the other impacted communities need to come together to decide where to go from here.

"I think we need to continue to stand strong as a group of communities in terms of putting out the message that this is something we don't want, we don't need and is only going to increase risk for our kids and the community as a whole," Ringius said.