Whitfield: Dedham Welcomes High Pressured Gas Pipeline

Dear Dedham Neighbors,

With less than a month till Spectra Energy breaks ground in the town of Dedham on a high-pressured gas pipeline, the Board of Selectmen finally held a meeting on Monday. At the meeting, approximately 150 residents learned that the Board of Selectmen sold out its residents despite significant health, safety, and economic costs to our town. While the Board of Selectmen vehemently said they opposed the pipeline, their actions indicate differently. Instead, they rolled out a red carpet and welcomed fracked high pressured gas to town with all the associated costs.

Town meeting members authorized the Board of Selectmen to negotiate with Spectra Energy. The town received $35,000 for the permits and an additional $350,000 in mitigation funding to repair damages to Gonzalez field due to installation of the pipeline and the clean up that may be needed due to unknown hazardous materials located at the site. In addition, the Board of Selectmen gave permission to Spectra Energy to house construction equipment for up to 16 months in a residential neighborhood.

Residents heard that Dedham residents can expect the following health problems as a result of the installed pipeline:

• The construction of compressor stations and other pipeline infrastructure exposes the populace to a constant dosage of radioactive and toxic chemicals.
• The AIM project as currently envisioned will emit 190 tons per year of nitrous oxide and 12.4 tons per year of sulfur oxide. Both cause adverse respiratory ailments and increased asthma symptoms. Formaldehyde causes eye and nose irritations, and is the likely cause of nosebleeds experienced by children living near compressor stations. It is considered a likely carcinogen.
• Citizens living near compressor stations have repeatedly exhibited acute symptoms such as nose bleeds, sore throats, rashes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, depression, drowsiness, irregular heartbeat and the list goes on. Ninety percent of individuals living and working within 2-3 miles of compressor stations report experiencing odor events and health impacts.

Dedham residents also learned that there is currently no safety plan in place. Spectra Energy will train local officials on proper procedures in case of gas leaks or explosions. In most cases, safety officials would be advised to allow any gas explosions to burn themselves out and not attempt any rescue operations until the gas fire has burned out. In addition, Dedham officials could not give assurances that there would be an odor to the gas as is required by Massachusetts law.

At the meeting, residents learned that the economic costs include a decrease in their property values. Residents’ mortgages may also be in jeopardy as Ginnie Mae also has a requirement that they be informed of the installation of a gas pipeline. Does Dedham get reduced energy costs or more access to natural gas? No! All of the gas flowing through this pipeline will serve the residents of West Roxbury. There is not one home in Dedham that will see a drop of this gas.

The Board of Selectmen has failed to protect the economic, safety and health of the residents of Dedham. Email immediately the Dedham Board of Selectmen and ask them to immediately rescind the permits issued to Spectra Energy due to the economic, health, and safety concerns to residents.

Sincerely,

M. Whitfield

Board of Selectmen Emails

Chairman, Jim MacDonald

EMAIL: Jimmacdonald2003@aol.com

Mike Butler

EMAIL: mikebutler53@verizon.net

Dennis J. Guilfoyle

EMAIL: dguilfoyle@comcast.net

Dennis J. Teehan, Jr.

EMAIL: dennis.teehan@yahoo.com

Brendan Keogh

EMAIL: Brendan.keogh@verizon.net