Now the Septic Field is Damaged

So very pissed to find that the mysterious hole just outside of our septic field is actually a missing pipe cap, removed by the construction of PSNC's pipeline project. 

Photo of the septic hole, taken from video of the area. See how the ground is wet?

We gave representatives of PSNC several verbal notifications that our septic field abuts the PSNC easement. We received several ​verbal assurances that the septic field had been noted. However, our field was not marked until well after the work had begun and the septic field compromised.

Good job guys. 

Fiber for The Forest, a Memorial Grove Project

In light of the destruction done to my property by the works of PSNC, I have been creating a community based project titled "Fiber for The Forest, a Memorial Grove Project". I am seeking artists around the globe to create scarves, wraps, banners, and dreamcatchers to decorate the edge of my forest, to memorialize the trees removed, and to draw attention to the actions of PSNC as they plow through Orange County NC.

We have a Facebook Page here:
https://www.facebook.com/Fiber4theForest

We're on Twitter:
@Fiber4theForest

use hashtag #Fiber4theForest

Anyone is welcome to participate in the project. Create some sort of fiber art creation and it will be installed along the property line.

Local pick-up is available in central NC.

A wonderful source for fibers and materials in central NC is The Scrap Exchange, and your local thrift shops.

Stranger Danger at the School Bus Stop

With the new PSNC pipeline going in next to our home, it's always something new around here.

Over the first weekend of October, we had a man lounging in the ditch by the bottom of our driveway. Was he with the pipeline? Was he a legitimate flagman for them? Who knows. This is the country. When someone is randomly laying in the ditch, either he's local or something is up. You put your guard up.

On Monday October 6, I walked with my son to the bus stop. I'm glad I did. There was again a man in our driveway. This time he had a construction hat and a vest on.

Now we are in close contact with the school, the bus department, and the bus drivers. Our main concern is the safety of our children as well as the children along this project.

After speaking with the project manager, and the "land agent", we were told that the flagman would be moved from our driveway, to about 50 feet away. Still too close for me.

Where did the topsoil disappear to?

The view west from Buckhorn Road this morning.

I am curious - the topsoil along the project was to be removed from the area and stored off to the side, and then returned. 

Looking west, from right to left, there is the (mostly) original land level (riddled with stump removals and other disturbances). Next there is the 1952 line (yellow markers), then a 1' terrace graded drop. I drew a line for the proposed PSNC 2014 line. The 1999 Cardinal/Williams line up the center of the photo (yellow markers again) and then on the other side of the Cardinal line there's another 1' drop, and no sign of the removed topsoil in sight. 

So, where is it...? Where did the topsoil go?

Edit: It was my understanding there would be a pile of it. I was told today that there was not that much topsoil. I guess all that foliage in the field just grew in a very shallow bit...? See where it says "continuous silt fence" on the left in the picture? Some of it is over there. 

Edit: Upon further observation, how is this possible? How can you terrace a field down by 1 foot, then terrace it again by another foot, and have no discernible topsoil left? Where is the DIRT? And where is all the plant matter that was there? Was the bulk of the topsoil taken away with that? 

PSNC Owes Me SLEEP

This is becoming serious. There is no way this can't affect our health over the next two months due to lack of sleep and the stress of this situation. This is insane. The constant heavy machinery is a nightmare. Once again this morning we are up at 6:40am due to the NOISE.

Friday night I stayed up super late compiling the report of the unannounced tree damage and destruction to my property, and was woken up by 7am on Saturday. They did not stop working until 7pm. I tried to take a nap and was woken in alarm from a dead sleep at about 3:45pm after about 25 minutes because MY BED WAS SHAKING so hard it woke me up, terrified. (This is NC - we are not in an earthquake zone.) They were grinding up trees, and it was shaking the house.

Whatever settlement they have for us, compensating us for property damage, it is not enough to pay for the effects on our health.

Today my Trees were Destroyed

We were told very few trees would be taken. 

I was told Thursday Oct 2 by Land Agents that they wouldn't take many trees.

By Friday afternoon Oct 3, they were destroyed.

We were given ZERO warning that the destruction would be this thorough.

At this time they are offering us $200 for this. Two hundred dollars for removing a Hickory tree that was nearly 100 years old from our forest.

I've only numbered the trees in the pictures to try to keep track. The numbers don't correspond with the true damage. I didn't number a lot of the saplings. Some trees were cut and the stumps removed before I could see/photograph the stumps. Only by reviewing my video made Friday morning can you see what trees were not only destroyed, but STOLEN before they could be counted.

(edit 10/4) As of 10:30 Saturday morning most of the evidence was removed from our property. 

(edit 10/5) By 7pm most of our trees were destroyed, ground into mulch. 

Here is some backstory on this mess: Part 1.

More: Part 2 

Also, follow the "labels" for PSNC in my blog.

Starting from the road and working back toward the creek (east to west)

***

Starting small with 2 small saplings...

1***

This tree was 15" across:

2***

Another stump

3***

You can see my shoe off to the left for reference.

4*** 

(there was also a sapling next to it)

5***

6***

very large base, strip of the tree that was left as part of the stump seen at top of photo

7***

heart shaped stump

8***

These in front of a beech tree

9*** 

This one is to the west of the tree left standing with the large poison ivy vine attached to it 

10***

This dogwood was completely topped and destroyed

Its base is behind the line, and behind this tree. 

The dogwood will die now. 

11***

12***

This cedar tree has been damaged beyond repair. One of the worst arbor hackjobs I've seen. Minimum of 8 branches chewed into.

13***

More small trees taken

14***

15***

Large ancient cedar. This was just on MY side of the line. 

There was absolutely no reason to remove this tree.

This tree was ancient.

Where is it? stolen.

16*** 

The ground is quite torn up here. 

Were stumps already removed?

This is near the back shed.

Video 086 shows a very large sweet gum in this location (3:40)

Video 086 also shows a large older dogwood by it (3:50)

Stolen before I could photograph the stumps.

17*** Maple

Tree de-branched and topped, still standing. It will die.

It is in my side of the line.

For reference, this is close to the back shed.

18***

Beside the back field, near the berry stakes. Lots of turned up ground.

19***

At this point, the land on my side of the line is torn up.

20***

This black walnut is on MY property, but it has been damaged by machinery.

In the foreground is a vertical strip of the giant Hickory that was taken.

21***

This giant Hickory was 27" across. 

To the east of it, at the time this picture,

there is a 5-foot crater dug into the earth.

This is the bark from the vertical strip that was left attached to the stump above.

22***

This tree was 19" across

23***

 This one is about 9" across

24***

10" across

25***

26***

put pic 38a here

tree chewed off, topped 

27***

The top of this tree is also chewed off

The base is approx 8"

27***

29***

6" pine chewed off at the top

:46 of video 094

Behind the line.

30***

This was a Black Walnut, 8" at the base.

Completely trashed.

It was behind the line.

1:05 of video 094

31***

10.5" across

1:29 video 094

32***

This one was 14" across

33***

This one is just east of the one above.

Again, Black Walnut.

34***

11" Pine

35***

More clusters of trees

These are 6" and 7" as marked on the photo. 

This is down the slope towards the wetlands.

36***

This one is down the slope and is 8" across.

Needless to say we are furious.

To the asshole that I told NOT to cut down that ancient Hickory that was ON THE LINE, and you went ahead and sliced it down as soon as my back was turned? Karma will find you.