March 16, 2015
John Oliver
c/o HBO 1100 Avenue of the Americas
NY, NY 10036
Dear Mr. Oliver,
As a follow up to my Dear John letter, I’m sending you some Spectra Swag.
The enclosed goodies are a small sample of what Spectra Energy, a Houston based natural gas transmission company, gives out at public open houses before they invade communities with fracked gas pipelines and compressor stations.
We thought that the silicone baster brushes and spatulas might help get your attention about the potentially flammable and explosive 42” inch high pressure fracked gas pipeline that is planned to go in right next to the Indian Point nuclear reactor. The risk of instant incineration for those who live nearby is real. Nowhere else in the country is a gas pipeline of this magnitude in such close proximity to a nuke plant. There are 40 years worth of spent fuel rods on site. If these were to catch fire, say goodbye to NYC as a habitable location. Much of the Northern Hemisphere of the planet would be exposed to huge amounts of radiation.
Jeff the diseased lung, the new mascot for Spectra Energy’s fracked gas compressor stations
Besides the safety concerns of fire and explosion, there are health issues. Compressor stations are needed every 20 miles or so to keep pressure from building up in the pipelines. These compressor stations spew out large amounts of gas and other pollutants on a regular basis. It really sucks if you already have breathing problems. Perhaps Jeff the diseased lung could do a cross partnership with Spectra Energy.
It is both ironic and insulting that Spectra Energy would give such “gifts” to those who will be in danger due to their projects. Hundreds of concerned citizens pick up the phone daily making calls to Homeland Security, Governor Cuomo and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand expressing their concerns about this hazardous project, we’ve gotten tepid responses.
I’m hoping that this gift of Spectra swag will inspire you to cover this story on Last Week Tonight. The inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere of our planet are counting on you to do a good job reporting on fracked gas infrastructure and Spectra’s classy swag.
Sincerely yours,
Susan Rubin
