Bianca Sanchez, bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org
CHAPLIN, CT. – Late Thursday evening, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection hosted a virtual public hearing on the proposed renewal of a Title V air permit at Enbridge’s gas compression station in Chaplin. The hearing was organized at the urging of Sierra Club Connecticut, alongside community members and other allied groups who share concerns about the facility's impact on local air quality.
Read More on the Dangers of Fracked Gas Use in Connecticut Here.
Compressor stations maintain the flow and pressure of fracked gas transported through gas pipelines. Compressors poison nearby communities with toxic emissions and threaten the safety of local residents. Approval of Enbridge’s renewed air permit relies on self-reported emissions data completed by the utility. For that reason, community activists urged DEEP to invest in air monitoring technology near the facility and conduct frequent, random inspections of the facility.
Attending community members and activists also called on DEEP to consider recent changes to federal emissions regulations currently not reflected in the Enbridge draft permit. These include the Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP), a component of the Inflation Reduction Act. MERP applies fees to compressor stations that emit more than 25,000 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions. The Chaplin Compressor Station draft air permit would allow the facility to emit up to 35,800 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions.
Lastly, attendees voiced concern that the Chaplin Station operates along the state-crossing pipeline route Enbridge has proposed expanding under the name Project Maple. Emissions from Project Maple are estimated to equal an astounding seven coal plants, threatening to erase Connecticut’s emission-reduction progress.
"If approved, the air quality permit will allow Enbridge to operate the Chaplin facility for five more years,” said Sierra Club Northeast Field Organizer Nick Katkevich. “It is up to DEEP to take bold action to protect Chaplin residents from Enbridge’s reckless pollution. DEEP has the power to institute the air monitoring and stricter regulations Chaplin needs to hold Enbridge accountable and protect public health. Now is the time for DEEP to critically consider the future of the Chaplin Compressor as our state moves increasingly toward a clean energy future.”
"As a young person who grew up just one town over from the compressor station, I am deeply alarmed by the continued expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure,” said Sena Wazer of Stop Project Maple. “The compressor station is harmful to local residents, moves us further away from the greenhouse gas goals we're already falling behind on, and sacrifices the future of young people to short term corporate profit. DEEP must stand up for our communities and the young people of our state."
"I'm from Coventry, Connecticut, just a short drive from Chaplin,” said Sydney Collins of Stop Project Maple. “Chaplin is an environmental justice community, and it’s important that DEEP takes steps to protect it from the harmful impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure. As a young person, we cannot allow this facility to emit more greenhouse gases that go against our state goals and new federal regulations to methane emissions. DEEP must act now to protect the residents, our state, and our climate future."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.