Above James Cromwell and Pramilla Malick speak to media outside of FERC.
Newest Protest Targets Millennium Valley Lateral Pipeline, Which FERC Is Forcing Through Without Required Water Quality Certificate
Protesters were removed from today’s monthly Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) meeting after speaking out against the commission’s controversial effort to force the construction of the Millennium Valley Lateral Pipeline, even without securing the required New York 401 Water Quality Certificate.
The protest was led by Actor James Cromwell (L.A. Confidential, The Green Mile, Six Feet Under) and Pramilla Malick, chair of the New-York-based group “Protect Orange County.” Both were removed from the building. Green America, the nation’s leading green economy organization, and Seeding Sovereignty, an anti-fracking group, also participated in the action.
Video from Chesapeake Climate Action Network from meeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with Beyond Extreme Energy #BXE, Protect Orange County, Food & Water Watch, Public Citizen, and actor James Cromwell Actor – Activist to defend New York’s right to protect their water quality and raise our voices against FERC’s #RubberStamp approval of harmful pipelines.
The pipeline project would require the installation of approximately 7.8 miles of 16 inch lateral pipeline between Millennium’s mainline and the CPV Valley Energy Center in Orange County, New York. FERC’s controversial efforts to force legal authorization for the pipeline are especially dangerous because they could establish a very bad precedent.
“FERC is a rapacious and reckless agency which is an existential threat to all sentient beings. They don’t give a FERC about air, water, the law, protected eagles, endangered species, or people,” said Cromwell. “They especially don’t give a FERC about the climate. No single entity is more responsible for climate change than FERC. They have blood on their hands and must be stopped.”
“Minisink was the first community to come to FERC 6 years ago,” said Malick. “We engaged the process faithfully only to learn that this agency does not serve the public interest but rather enables an industry with an egregious sense of entitlement. FERC’s approvals routinely violate federal laws as well as the fourteenth amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, FERC’s current showdown with the State of New York demonstrates the agency’s absolute contempt for state authority and the environmental protections established to protect our air and water. They expect us to drink and breathe gas, but we, the people, will fight for our air and water!”
Lee Ziesche of Seeding Sovereignty, said, “FERC’s approval of the Valley Lateral fracked gas pipeline threatens everything I love. It means my home state of Pennsylvania will continue to be fracked to bits. It means my current home in Brooklyn is at even greater risk from climate change. As a millennial who cares deeply about the future of our world and the communities being devastated by fracked gas infrastructure, I have no choice but to stand up against FERC’s blatant disregard for the health and safety of New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians and the planet.”
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ABOUT THE GROUPS
Protect Orange County is a New York-based group dedicated to protecting communities and the climate from fracked gas infrastructure and dependency. Our primary focus is on shutting down a major fracked-gas power plant project, the CPV Valley Energy Center, and its related facilities. We also work towards legislative and regulatory public policy initiatives to establish better environmental protections http://www.protectorangecounty.org/
Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org
Seeding Sovereignty is a multigenerational, youth-led model by and for indigenous and non-indigenous women based on mentoring relationships and principles of unity, solidarity, justice, sharing, and respect. It honors the fact that Indigenous sovereignty prioritizes the rights of the Earth, of Plants, Animals and coming generations, and views their role as sovereign people as protectors. https://seedingsovereignty.org/
MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroup.com.