Residents urge Oak Ridge Council to pass resolution opposing Transco SSEP pipeline

Dozens of residents and regional advocates told the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Feb. 6 that they want the council to adopt a formal resolution opposing the Transco Southeastern Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP).

At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, speakers described safety risks from high‑pressure methane pipelines near homes, schools and churches, raised groundwater and stream contamination concerns, and asked the council to use a formal resolution to signal opposition to state and federal decision‑makers.

"We are asking the Oak Ridge Town Council to vote and pass a resolution opposing the SSEP project through our town," said Ron Ray, a resident of Stafford Mill Road, who described the 56‑mile, 42‑inch pipeline project and said 28 miles would run through four North Carolina counties including Oak Ridge. Residents and speakers repeatedly noted nearby assets they said would be affected, including Oak Ridge Elementary School, Oak Ridge Military Academy and local churches.

"These projects threaten the safety of groundwater, which once contaminated is nearly impossible to mitigate," said Emily Sutton, Haw River Keeper and executive director of Haw River Assembly, citing the risks to private wells in the watershed. Claire Spear, a community advocate from Hillsborough, urged council members to act, saying local and county resolutions elsewhere helped block similar pipeline routes and gave state officials political cover to act.

Speakers also cited construction risks, including stream crossings and blasting near wells, and referenced the pipeline operator's safety record. Several residents said the proposed construction would run parallel to existing pipelines that have been in place for decades and that adding a new line would require additional excavation near those lines.

Speakers who asked the council to pass a resolution included Ron Ray; Chris Ninziato; Terry Hammond; Mandy Bird; Robin Johnson; Brenda Cheney; Emily Sutton (Haw River Assembly); Claire Spear; Greg Anderson; Peter Molnar; Cameron Ligon; Paul Partika; and others. Many described living, working or operating businesses inside the project's potential blast or impact zones.

Council members responded that the town's legal authority is limited for a federal or interstate pipeline, but several members said they were listening and that the council could consider a resolution. Council Member comments signaled willingness to continue discussion: one council member said they had heard enough residents to give "serious consideration to having a resolution that opposes the pipeline," while another noted there are limits to local regulatory power but offered to meet with residents.

Why it matters: speakers said Oak Ridge relies heavily on private wells and local streams that feed larger water supplies, and they argued a council resolution can influence state and regional decision‑makers and create political cover for higher officials to act.

What the council did: on Feb. 6 the council did not adopt a new resolution during the meeting. Residents repeatedly requested that the council schedule or approve a formal resolution of opposition; council members said they would continue to review the issue and hear from constituents.

Ending: Residents asked the council to move from listening to an explicit, public stance. Several speakers offered to meet with council members and staff, and outside organizations offered technical assistance for water‑quality and legal analysis.