Environmentalist raise awareness about Sabal Trail Pipeline

WALB - Environmentalists are raising awareness about the Sabal Trail Pipeline.

Folks from North Florida and South Georgia held a protest at the Withlacoochee River Wednesday and listened to a news conference announcing the Georgia Water Coalition's Dirty Dozen.

The report highlights the worst offenses and greatest threats to Georgia's bodies of water.

A natural gas pipeline, now under construction, continues to stir up controversy among water activists in South Georgia.

The 3.2-billion dollar Sabal Trial pipeline will pass through nine south Georgia counties, and water coalition members are not happy about it.

"There is no excuse for this pipeline and it is massively destructive," said John Quarterman.

Quarterman is the president of the WWALS Watershed Coalition out of Hahira.

That group has fought the pipeline since it was announced in 2013, including a 4-month legal challenge.

"Sabal Trail told us in a legal case in Florida that we would never, it couldn't happen that drilling would cause things to bubble up in the area. It happened right over there just 2,000 feet up stream," said Quarterman.

WALB asked Sabal Trail for a response to the protest.  A spokesperson released a statement, saying :
"Our safety programs are designed to prevent pipeline failures, detect anomalies, perform repairs and often exceed regulatory requirements. Once the facilities are placed in service, we will implement operations procedures designed to monitor the pipeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we maintain the facilities per applicable federal and state regulations."

Opponents said they aren't giving up.
"It's taking people's land, it's destroying our environment, it's risking our drinking water," said Quarterman.

Sabal Trail representatives realize that protesting will continue to happen and said this in response to Wednesday's Protest:
"Sabal Trail respects the right of individuals to peacefully protest and express their positions in public areas. We continue to implore peaceful protestors not to place themselves or our contractors in an unsafe situation."

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