opinion

Protect Seneca Lake, life

I was among 10 people arrested for blocking access to the Texas-based Crestwood Midstream’s LPG (liquified petroleum gas) storage and compressor construction site on Seneca Lake.

Their plan to store massive quantities of highly explosive LPG in old, unstable, shoreline salt caverns is a grave threat to the region. Every town and county around Seneca Lake opposes this project except the host town. What could possibly go wrong?

Here’s an excerpt from Crestwood’s 10-K Report, which companies must file with the Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose risks.

“Our business involves many hazards and risks, some of which may not be fully covered by insurance”:

•pipeline or vessel ruptures or corrosion, explosions and other incidents.

• leaks, migrations or losses of natural gas and NGLs.

•collapse of storage caverns.

•environmental pollution or other environmental issues, including drinking water contamination associated with our raw water or water disposal wells.

•These risks could result in substantial losses … personal injury and/or loss of life, damage to and destruction of property … and pollution or other environmental damage.

Seneca Lake water is consumed by 100,000 people. Tourists flock to the region to enjoy its natural beauty and award-winning wines. The history of catastrophic explosions at salt cavern LPG storage facilities warns of a possible end to all that unless we intervene.

It’s urgent that we accept the fact we’re changing the conditions for life on this planet, that the mass extinctions and failing ecosystems around us reflect our own chances of survival. As wildlife and landscapes disappear, we feel our relationships and experiences with life on earth diminishing because it’s all connected. The future looks bleak, but there’s hope in knowing we can change. We must act quickly if we want a livable world for our children.

We of Seneca Lake Defenders are taking a stand, right now. Our decision to engage in civil disobedience was our last recourse after exhausting all legal means to right this injustice. Our government is failing us, but we refuse to surrender our duty to protect our homeland, our Earth, source of all that nourishes, inspires and connects us. Go to wearesenecalake.com to help.

Kasper, a North Rose resident and minister, is unrelated to Barbara Kasper.