Re: [stop-ethanol-trains-in-greater-boston] Digest for stop-ethanol-trains-in-greater-boston@googlegroups.com - 4 Messages in 1 Topic

[Annie]

What is the bill number or name we're asking Gov. Patric, to sign?

Thanks,

Annie

On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 2:20 AM, <stop-ethanol-train...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/stop-ethanol-trains-in-greater-boston/topics

• Still fighting . . . [4 Updates]

 Still fighting . . .

Alexandra Kepner <alix....@gmail.com> Jul 10 01:46PM -0400  

Hi, everyone--
 
After the excitement of the Chapter 91 amendment making it through the
conference committee last week, we're now waiting to see whether Governor
Patrick will sign it into law. Prospects are not looking good. While
Global Partners has officially withdrawn their proposal for upgrading their
Revere rail facility, they are strongly lobbying the Governor to veto the
amendment. Global's stance is that the amendment will destroy the gas &
oil industry in the Commonwealth. If you have not done so already, PLEASE
call the Governor's office TODAY (617.725.4005) and urge him to sign the
bill.
 
Meanwhile, you've probably been following the unfolding news story
regarding the horrific oil-train disaster that took place this past weekend
in Lac-Megantic, Québec. A 73-car unit train full of Bakken crude heading
for the Irving terminal in New Brunswick derailed, multiple tanker cars
exploded, the majority of the downtown area was destroyed, and ~50 people
were most-likely vaporized. As investigations continue, we've learned that
the railroad company (Montreal, Maine & Atlantic) was using DOT-111
tankers, known for their structural vulnerabilities in the event of
derailment. Many other aspects of inadequate regulation most-likely
contributed to this accident as well.
 
We need to heed the Lac-Megantic accident for the warning it is. Global
Partners may have withdrawn their proposal for now, but you can bet they're
going to come back and try again in the near future. An article in today's
Boston Globe notes a dramatic increase in oil transport by rail:
 
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/07/09/quebec-tragedy-unlikely-slow-oil-shipments-via-rail/KGKrxeEe84Rixz3R47DFvJ/story.html
 
We need to continue to monitor this very important issue--it's not likely
to go away. I hope we can continue to work on it together.
 
In it for the long haul (pun intended),
 
--Alix


 

Robert Winters <Rob...@rwinters.com> Jul 10 03:02PM -0400  

On 7/10/2013 1:46 PM, Alexandra Kepner wrote:
> amendment will destroy the gas & oil industry in the Commonwealth. If
> you have not done so already, PLEASE call the Governor's office TODAY
> (617.725.4005) and urge him to sign the bill.
 
I'm not disputing the possibility that Global Partners is lobbying the
Governor to veto the amendment, but on what do you base this assertion?
I was not aware that lobbying efforts are usually known to the public.
Is this just speculation? Until somebody can convince me otherwise, I
will assume that Global Partners has not changed their statement issued
last week that they are "a good company that doesn’t want to go against
the wishes of the local community." Lobbying to the contrary would go
against that statement, so I would like to know what the basis is for
the claim that this lobbying is taking place.
 
Robert Winters
 
http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=2822


 

Alexandra Kepner <alix....@gmail.com> Jul 10 03:09PM -0400  

Members of the Chelsea group met with the Governor's staff yesterday to ask
that he sign the amendment. Global Partners' reps met with the Governor's
staff afterwards.
 
--Alix
 
On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, Robert Winters wrote:
 


 

Robert Winters <Rob...@rwinters.com> Jul 10 03:18PM -0400  

On 7/10/2013 3:09 PM, Alexandra Kepner wrote:
> Members of the Chelsea group met with the Governor's staff yesterday
> to ask that he sign the amendment. Global Partners' reps met with the
> Governor's staff afterwards.
 
Who was privy to the discussions between Governor Patrick and the
representatives from Global Partners? It's quite possible that they were
discussing alternative options - other locations for their facility, for
example. I have no way of knowing and I'm perfectly willing to believe
that Global would still like to build their Revere facility even if the
plans for rail transport do not materialize.
 
Robert Winters


 

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