Mayor Kay Comes Out Against Proposed North Weymouth Gas Compressor Station

From Mayor Susan Kay:

I want to thank the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for holding one of the four public scoping meetings in Weymouth, MA. Although no pipeline changes are proposed in Weymouth, the plan to add a compressor station in North Weymouth, would have an environmental impact on the community that needs to be carefully studied. I am certain you will hear tonight from many residents of the Fore River Basin who have been burdened by industrial uses that have contributed to the degradation of the neighborhood environment.

I want to state up front that I am opposed to the proposal to site a new gas compressor station in North Weymouth. I do not believe that this is the right location to site a compressor station for two main reasons. First, a compressor station creates environmental issues such as noise, odors, and safety that should not be located in a densely populated area such as the Fore River Basin. Second, the North Weymouth neighborhood and Fore River Basin is already the location of problematic industrial uses and the community does not need to deal with another such use. These uses include: a power plant and MWRA regional sewage pump station in North Weymouth; another power plant, a hazardous waste facility, and a gasoline/oil depot in Braintree, and a chemical plant and sewage pelletizing plant in Quincy.

Allow me to comment briefly on the specific environmental issues that concern me with the proposed gas compressor station:

• NOISE - A compressor station would potentially create a nuisance to the surrounding community due to the large amount of noise they produce. Emergency shutdowns and/or blow-offs at compressor stations have been described as sounding like “a jet engine” or a “freight train”. These occurrences would create a nuisance to a large number of North Weymouth residents.

• AIR POLLUTION – The area of the proposed compressor station is already saturated with industry that pollutes the air. Two adjacent point sources of pollution include the Power Plant, as well as, Twin Rivers located in Quincy. The compressor station would add another major source of air pollution to the area.

• SAFETY – First responders would have to deal with emergencies at the compressor station. News accounts of people injured or killed at such facilities can be seen with a simple web search. The town will have to train first responders in responding to emergencies at the compressor.

• GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION – The geographic location of the facility is concerning as well. MASS GIS has the site listed within a Hurricane Inundation Zone. This means the site may become in-accessible during and/or after a Category 2 hurricane and completely inundated after a Category 4 hurricane. In addition, if a major event ever did occur, it would have the possibility of shutting down Route 3A, damaging or closing the Fore River Bridge, and/or disrupting trade on the Fore River.

I will also be submitting written comments prior to June 11, 2015, that will amplify on the issues I have addressed tonight. I want to close by noting that this is an environmentally stressed area and should not be subject to additional degradation of the environment. This proposal must be evaluated in the content of the other land uses in the Fore River Basin. As an Elected Official, I am responsible for the health and welfare of my Community! I urge you to site this proposal in another area, outside of Weymouth.

Thank you to FERC staff for the opportunity to present our issues of concern with this proposal.