NORTHFIELD
“I think that there are more and more people who are aware of why we want to stop the pipeline, fracking and keep fossil fuels in the ground, but there’s still a number of people who haven’t heard about it — particularly in communities that won’t have a pipeline running through it,” said Cate Woolner, one of the alliance founders. “The walk is a good way to bring awareness to the issue.”
The walk will start March 17 in Windsor and will end March 20 in Northfield after crossing through Cummington, Plainfield, Ashfield, Buckland, Shelburne Falls, Greenfield, Turners and Millers Falls. The exact path will be announced closer to the event date.
Participants will walk at a pace of about 2.5 miles per hour through communities directly impacted or near the route of the Northeast Energy Direct project proposed by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., which is expected to carry up to 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale fields through Plainfield in Hampshire County and eight Franklin County towns along its 415-mile path.
The alliance began planning the walk in November and chose the dates to specifically coincide with spring break for local colleges. Woolner said the benefit of organizing and participating in an event with a younger generation ensures continued awareness about a topic.
“There are some really amazing organizers who are young people,” she said. “It’s been wonderful working with college students. They are more savvy about organizing other people and have also had a variety of organizational and political experience they bring to this work.”
Those who plan to spend the night should bring a sleeping bag, and meals and snacks will be provided. Donations are welcome to help pay for the food and other necessities, but nobody will be turned away if they cannot contribute. Each night will include a free public presentation. The Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir is scheduled as the opening event in Shelburne.
The alliance requests all participants register in advance for the walk to have enough food to serve everyone. Woolner said about 30 percent of the people who have registered for the event are students.
Further information, including registration, is available by visiting the website at bit.ly/1p8Ka7b.
– RACHEL RAPKIN
The following are recent state Department of Environmental Protection consent orders and penalty assessments in western Massachusetts.
• WETLANDS PROTECTION ACT CONSENT ORDER, Jan. 29, GRANBY: Entered into a consent order with a $9,400 penalty involving Denis LaFleur for Wetlands Protection Act violations in Granby. LaFleur, doing business as Happy Days Family Fun Spot, has agreed to address the violations which are the result of the alteration of approximately 4,200 square feet of bordering vegetated wetlands. The location where this occurred offers a driving range, mini-golf and refreshments. LaFleur will pay $2,400 and $7,000 is suspended provided he retains a wetlands consultant and provides the mitigation required by this order.
• AIR QUALITY VIOLATIONS CONSENT ORDER, Jan. 25, WILLIAMSBURG: Entered into a consent order with a $5,750 penalty involving TLB Inc. with air quality violations in Williamsburg. TLB Inc. is a Michigan-based company that manufactures and sells outdoor hydronic heaters. The violations were identified during a MassDEP inspection of CRD Metalworks LLC, where MassDEP ascertained that the facility had installed and operated an uncertified outdoor hydronic heater. The uncertified outdoor hydronic heater was sold to CRD Metalworks by TLB Inc. As part of the settlement agreement, TLB Inc. will pay a penalty of $3,000. An additional $2,750 will be suspended pending the company’s compliance with the terms of the agreement.