Andronico Resolution Calls for Halt of Compressor Station Operations

Patriot Ledger Article published April 14, 2021

Original Source: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/04/14/weymouth-compressor-station-target-quincy-councilors-attacks/7224926002/

QUINCY — City councilors and Quincy officials this week reaffirmed their commitment to protect the interests of residents and slammed operators of a new natural gas compressor station operating on the banks of the Fore River in Weymouth.

Ward 2's Anthony Andronico submitted a resolution to the city council asking the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to order the compressor station to stop operating until the root cause of a recent unplanned natural gas release can be fully investigated. The resolution comes after the station's third unplanned release of gas in the last seven months, which Andronico says is ample proof that the compressor station has no business operating in the region.

Enbridge, the energy company that owns the natural gas compressor station, notified officials of an unplanned release of gas on April 6 but did not specify the cause or amount. It is at least the third time an unplanned gas release that exceed 10,000 standard cubic feet has occurred in Weymouth since the compressor started operating in September. 

Following the first two releases, the Safety Administration approved the temporary operation of the station as long as Enbridge implemented additional safety recommendations. In the corrective action order, the administration's associate administrator Alan Mayberry said "the release of large quantities of pressurized natural gas in heavily populated area carries substantial risk of fire, explosion and personal injury or death."

Months later, the third release occurred. 

Enbridge spokesman Max Bergeron said in an email last week that the company notified all officials as required. He did not specify the reason for the gas release.

"The safety of the facility and surrounding area were not impacted by this occurrence, and we are continuing to proceed with safety as our highest priority," he said in the email.

Quincy and Weymouth together spent millions of dollars over the last several years fighting the plans, construction and approval of the compressor station, citing serious health and safety concerns. Weymouth has since reached a deal worth up to $10 million with Enbridge, and in turn agreed to drop all pending lawsuits. 

On Monday, Chris Walker, chief of staff to Mayor Thomas Koch, said Quincy has made no such promises and is still party to several suits pending in various courts.

"We did not engage in those negations, nor would we," Walker said. "We are standing shoulder to shoulder. . . With the neighborhoods. We are 100 percent in." 

Andronico's resolution asks for a full halt to the compressor's operations and an investigation into the latest unplanned gas release. He said he recently met with officials in the city's fire department, who said they requested more information following the compressor's first gas release and "just didn't hear back from Enbridge, for months." 

"Any unplanned release could spark an absolute catastrophe and it's simply unacceptable that we wouldn't be notified," he said. 

Brian Palmucci, city councilor in Ward 4, called the compressor a "public health emergency."

"In my experience, when you don't get a response, it's because there is something worse to say, he said. "My suspicion. . .  is that if they were to tell us what is really going on at that compressor station, it would blow all of our minds and they would be shut down immediately."

The resolution received support from the entire council. 

"It was a terrible decision to allow this to go forward and the fact that we even have to talk about this is devastating to me," Quincy City Councilor-At-Large Anne Mahoney said. "It's terrifying."