FERC Public Meetings, September 28-October 8, 2015
FERC held a series of public meetings to receive comments from the public on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS), including five meetings in Florida. Two of those meetings were located near the Florida Southeast Connection proposed corridor.
Monday, October 5, 2015 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EDT Indian River State College Williamson Conference Center Auditorium 2229 Northwest 9th Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34972 Get Directions
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EDT Davenport School of the Arts Cafeteria 4751 County Road 547 (Lee Jackson Highway) Davenport, FL 33837 Get Directions
Public comments were also collected electronically or in writing, and were required to be submitted by October 26, 2015. To see the full schedule of public meetings, or for directions on how to submit public comments, download the draft EIS from FERC: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/, search Docket Number CP14-554-000 for the FSC Project.
Scoping Meetings, March 18-20, 2014
FERC scoping meetings are open to the general public and are structured for people to make statements to the FERC staff about the project. FERC staff describes the environmental review process with members of the public, provides relevant information, and answers procedural questions. The Company is present and typically gives a summary of its project and is available before and after the formal part of the meeting for questions and answers.
FERC scoping meetings on the Florida Southeast Connection pipeline were held on the following dates and times at the following locations:
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 6 p.m. Lake Wales Art Center 1099 East Florida 60 Lake Wales, FL 33853 (863) 676-8426 Get directions
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 6 p.m. Okeechobee High School 2800 Highway 441 North Okeechobee, FL 34972 (863) 462-5025 Get directions
Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 6 p.m. Kissimmee Civic Center 201 East Dakin Avenue Kissimmee, FL 34741 (407) 935-1412 Get directions
Open Houses – Fall 2013
Florida Southeast Connection pledged to communicate with residents and businesses about the project and generate feedback throughout its progress. Community involvement helps us identify and address topics related to project design and location. Florida Southeast Connection held a series of open house events to present a project that balances the needs of customers along with the community and the environment.
Florida Southeast Connection engaged in extensive public outreach in advance of submitting our application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This natural gas pipeline is being proposed to ensure a reliable, diverse, domestic fuel supply for Florida’s energy future. Our goals are to:
- Share. Generate a broad awareness of the critical need for a third, major pipeline system to meet the growing energy needs of the Sunshine State and its value to the region’s economy
- Listen. We want to hear what community residents and other stakeholders have to say, and provide opportunities for everyone to understand the process and their rights, ask questions, voice opinions and present ideas about the project.
- Engage in dialogue. Create an atmosphere of openness where we can respond to questions and suggestions presented by the community and other stakeholders.
Importance of the public’s input
These open houses provided a forum to secure public input that can be shared with other agencies that are integral to the pipeline approval process including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Public participation is an integral component of the FERC approval process and takes place before a formal application is filed – so interested parties may engage more fully in the route selection process.
