The Project Notification Phase began in 2013.
June 10, 2013
Algonquin sent letters about their plans to West Roxbury residents who live within 50 feet of the pipeline route and the Metering an Regulating station. No letters were sent to homeowners on Centre St. and Grove St. or those in the area called The Grove, a neighborhood of twisting dirt and gravel roads with hundreds of residents.
June 14, 2013
Survey request letters were sent to landowners whose property would be directly affected by the project. Algonquin determined who would be directly affected.
July 9, 2013
Letters were sent by Algonquin to abutters of proposed route but not to people on surrounding streets, inviting them to a meeting on July 23, 2013 at the Knight of Columbus Hall, W.R.
July 10, 2013
Algonquin met with city officials to provide a project overview.
July 23
Landowner invitational mtg.with Algonquin at K. of C. Hall in West Roxbury.
September 2013
National Grid signed agreement with Algonquin. Agreement approved by Mass. Dept. of Public Utilities. Mass. AG and Mass. Depart. of Energy Resources also recommend approval of contract.
Sept. 13, 2013
Federal Energy Regulating Commission (FERC) issued Notice and Request for Comments that very few people are aware of.
Oct. 3, 2013
FERC held Scoping Hearing to solicit public input concerning its preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (the DEIS) Notices of the meeting were placed in local newspapers.
Feb. 28, 2014
Algonquin on behalf of Spectra Energy filed application for authorization to construct and operate AIM Project with FERC.
March 31, 2014
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. completed an impact study for Spectra and filed it with FERC for its review and consideration.
June 23, 2014
FERC issued Notice of Schedule for its environmental review of the project.
August 6, 2014
FERC issued its draft environmental statement (DEIS) and assigned the Algonquin/Spectra proposal docket number CP14-96-000. In the DEIS, FERC announced that the close of comment period during which community members could ask questions and make comments opposing the pipeline was Sept. 29, 2014.
Sept. 3, 2014
Algonquin held an open house at W. R. Elks. There was no presentation, no meeting, no agenda.
Sept. 8, 2014 (night before primary election)
FERC held mtg.in Dedham about AIM project and WRL at which there was a presentation and comments were taken from public. This was the only hearing held by FERC in Mass. in regard to AIM project. A second hearing was requested so more people could attend and it wouldn’t interfere with night before election activities but request denied.
Sept. 29, 2014
Comments on DEIS must be received in Washington, DC on or before this date. Comments submitted after this date can be read and responded to at FERC’s discretion.
Community Reaction Phase Fall 2014
Oct. 8, 2014
West Roxbury Saves Energy (WRSE) holds community meeting at Irish Social Club. Spectra was invited by WRSE (as well as local and federal elect officials) but declined to attend. Concerns raised by those in attendance generated list of questions that WRSE sent to Spectra.
Oct. 15, 2014
Mayor’s meeting about quarry issues and pipeline Elks’ Hall. Hundreds in attendance and several elected officials also attended.
Dec. 3, 2014
Community meeting with a presentation by Mark McDonald, a West Roxbury resident and natural gas expert. Working groups were formed that would become Stop the West Roxbury Lateral or SWRL. Plans for a website were made as well as plans to contact Sen. Warren and Sen. Markey. Weekly vigils outside the quarry began.
Dec. 8, 2014
West Roxbury Civic Improvement Assoc. meeting at which Rickie Harvey of WRSE presented information to a large gathering.
Dec. 19, 2014
A meeting with staff from Sen. Warren and Sen. Markey’s office in the Federal Bldg. at which community members asked them to push for a moratorium on gas pipelines in the state until studies could prove them are and necessary.
January 2015
Weekly vigils continued. Door to door canvassing began on New Year’s Day. Community meetings were held weekly to educate the public and to recruit volunteers. Many people made comments on the AIM docket on FERC’s website. There is no response from the Senators about the moratorium. About 100 people showed up for a rally at the weekly vigil site outside the quarry. Another large rally was held on the rotary outside Holy Name Church.
Jan. 31, 2015
FERC issues final environmental impact statement (FEIS) to Spectra.
February 2015
Weekly vigils continued. Community meeting at the Ohrenberger School but canvassing stopped due to heavy snow all month.
March 2015
Weekly vigils outside quarry continued. Requests for rehearing by FERC on its decision to issue the FEIS are filed by those with intervenor status: SWRL, City of Boston, Town of Dedham, and several individuals.
April 2015
Weekly vigils continue. Lawn signs and T-shirts with Stop the WRL insignia are made and distributed.
May 2015
Weekly vigils continue. Teach-in held at Theodore Parker Church in W. R. Lawn signs are actively promoted throughout the community. FERC issues a “tolling order” in response to the requests for rehearing. This allows Spectra to begin construction but prevents the intervenors from suing or taking other legal actions.
June 2015
Weekly vigils continue. Walking vigil from T. P. Church to quarry. Canvassing begins door to door and outside grocery stores with petition calling for health and safety study to be done outside quarry. Petition also available on SWRL website. Spectra breaks ground in Dedham weeks ahead of schedule. Selectman Mike Butler is arrested for an act of civil disobedience.
July 2015
Weekly vigils continue. Dedham loses lawsuit against Spectra in federal court. Canvassing with petition continues. Over 200 people participate in rally and march from Gonzalez Field in Dedham to West Roxbury-Dedham Line.
August 2015
Weekly vigils, canvassing with petition continue. Resist the Pipeline and SWRL team up to plan rally for Sept. SWRL members table at Boston Greenfest on City Hall Plaza. Spectra sued the City of Boston for eminent domain.
September 2015
About 300 people rally and march from Billings Field to quarry entrance. Boston loses against Spectra in federal court. Spectra thereby gains eminent domain to the streets and any property they need. With eminent domain, they do not have to abide by any city permitting regulations.They start digging in Washington St. the day after the court’s decision. Monday evening vigils continue. Vigils every morning from 8 to 9 are started at Spectra’s construction site on Washington St. SWRL members are joined by members of T.P. Church and 350 Mass. Petitions are circulated at W.R. Farmers’ Market and Roslindale Farmers’ Market.
October 2015
Vigils continue with members of SWRL as well as members of Resist the Pipeline, 350 Mass. and other groups. Petitions are circulated at W.R. Farmer’s Market. Acts of non-violent civil disobedience and arrests occur each week at the worksite.