Last fall, a representative of Buckeye Development and Logistics contacted our City Planner and inquired whether our Council would entertain issuing a permanent pipeline Easement, Permit, or License, before Buckeye spent resources. At the time, it appeared that the issue had been resolved.
However, on January 18, 2013, Buckeye Development & Logistics sent our City Planner a letter explaining that it was seeking to place a new route to complement or replace the current pipeline and that route would pass through the limits of the City of Miami Springs and the Village of Virginia Gardens.
The letter fueled a story by Theo Karantsalis, which claimed that the proposed pipeline would be the sole source of jet fuel to the Miami International Airport. Theo's story was overstated. It was not being proposed as the sole source, but the overstatement certainly made residents stand up and take notice. The Chairwoman of the County Commission was contacted as well as the City's lobbyist, Jose Fuentes. The hoopla continued and Mr. Boone of Buckeye Partners, L.P. issued a news release clarifying that the January 18, 2013 letter was not a statement of intent, but instead a notice that Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P. was conducting a feasibility study to assess potential options. Theo Karantsalis wrote another story for The Miami Herald, which explained the status of the jet-fuel pipeline.
Thereafter, on February 28, 2013, the Manager and Mayor sent a joint letter explaining that there is no "form" City application for the type of project they were suggesting and reiterating the concern of the residents, schools and churches in the neighborhood. Only a few days later, on March 5, 2013, Mr. Boone announced through a press release that the feasibility assessment had been concluded and that a pipeline relocation at the Miami Springs location was no longer an option under consideration.
I call this "the power of the press." Theo's stories sure did stir up the residents of the City of Miami Springs, which in turn got the attention of the Chairwoman and County Commission. If you look back to the beginning, it seems like much ado about nothing. It goes to show that a little press can go a long way.
However, on January 18, 2013, Buckeye Development & Logistics sent our City Planner a letter explaining that it was seeking to place a new route to complement or replace the current pipeline and that route would pass through the limits of the City of Miami Springs and the Village of Virginia Gardens.
The letter fueled a story by Theo Karantsalis, which claimed that the proposed pipeline would be the sole source of jet fuel to the Miami International Airport. Theo's story was overstated. It was not being proposed as the sole source, but the overstatement certainly made residents stand up and take notice. The Chairwoman of the County Commission was contacted as well as the City's lobbyist, Jose Fuentes. The hoopla continued and Mr. Boone of Buckeye Partners, L.P. issued a news release clarifying that the January 18, 2013 letter was not a statement of intent, but instead a notice that Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P. was conducting a feasibility study to assess potential options. Theo Karantsalis wrote another story for The Miami Herald, which explained the status of the jet-fuel pipeline.
Thereafter, on February 28, 2013, the Manager and Mayor sent a joint letter explaining that there is no "form" City application for the type of project they were suggesting and reiterating the concern of the residents, schools and churches in the neighborhood. Only a few days later, on March 5, 2013, Mr. Boone announced through a press release that the feasibility assessment had been concluded and that a pipeline relocation at the Miami Springs location was no longer an option under consideration.
I call this "the power of the press." Theo's stories sure did stir up the residents of the City of Miami Springs, which in turn got the attention of the Chairwoman and County Commission. If you look back to the beginning, it seems like much ado about nothing. It goes to show that a little press can go a long way.
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