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Davidson County residents press commissioners to push safety-focused resolution on Transco expansion
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Davidson County Commission to oppose or at least press for stricter safety and water protections for the Transco 'Southeast Supply Enhancement Project.' Commissioners agreed to have staff draft a resolution focused on safety concerns and to return it for consideration at the next meeting.
Dozens of residents urged the Davidson County Commission on Monday to act on safety and environmental concerns tied to Williams/Transco’s Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP), saying the county has a duty to protect local water, air and property values.
Speakers during the public-comment period detailed technical and personal worries. Janine Spadirlo told commissioners that she had attended a state DEQ hearing on the project and criticized county officials for not attending, saying residents and local groups had offered testimony on ‘‘clean air, clean water and quality of life.’’ Crystal Norford of Clean Water for North Carolina described the project’s plan to cross six streams in the Yadkin watershed using a ‘‘dry ditch open cut’’ method that she said risks increased sedimentation and long-term impacts to water-treatment operations.
Other speakers framed the project as a public-safety risk and a local-cost, out-of-county-benefit scheme. Gary Graalu and Rick Dingwall warned of presumed safety incidents and long-term health consequences; Aden Lorets and Pam Bird described neighboring counties’ resolutions noting safety, disproportionate impacts and limited local economic benefit.
County commissioners responded by directing staff to draft a resolution that highlights safety concerns. On the record the chair and multiple commissioners said the county lacked regulatory authority over federal permitting decisions but could formally express concerns to state and federal agencies and seek a written report on safety and construction methods. Staff said they would draft language emphasizing safety and bring the proposed resolution to the board at the next regular meeting for action.
What happens next: The county’s staff will prepare a safety-focused draft resolution that the board will review at a future meeting. Commissioners and several speakers noted the final federal and state permitting decisions remain outside the county’s direct authority, and the resolution would be advisory but intended to signal local concerns to regulators.
