Cheshire Gets Gas Pipeline Answers From Kinder Morgan

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The town hosted the information session on the gas pipeline and invited Kinder Morgan, the developer of the pipeline, and opposition groups to give presentations so the public would be informed.

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Kinder Morgan representatives, pipeline opposition groups, and local administration fielded questions and concerns from resident about the proposed natural gas pipeline to pass through Cheshire.

Cheshire hosted the informational meeting Thursday night in the packed Elementary School auditorium to educate the townspeople on the proposed Northeast Direct Project pipeline that will carry natural gas from the Marcellus Shale territory in Pennsylvania, through New York, Massachusetts, and Maine.

The proposed two-mile section in Cheshire will be 36 inches in diameter and follow the utility lines through Cheshire's southern corridor near the Lanesborough line on Route 8. It will pass under the rail trail, Cheshire Reservoir, and Whitney's Farm Stand before heading toward Dalton.

It is anticipated to possibly affect six landowners.

Kinder Morgan representative Steve Keadey said Kinder Morgan only transports gas to distributors such as Berkshire Gas. It does not drill or sell. He said this pipeline would answer the demand of natural gas in the area that has forced Berkshire Gas to cap gas supply and not take on new customers.

He said the pipeline would stimulate the economy and allow more business to come to the area. He said construction would create 3,000 jobs.

Mike Lennon, Kinder Morgan rights of way supervisor for the project in New England, said during the pipeline's first year of use it is anticipated to bring the town $370,000 in new taxes; it will depreciate in value as it ages.

Town Administrator Mark Webber said the Department of Revenue will ultimately decide this amount and although there has been no official amount released yet, a formula can be used to estimate the amount.

"I won't say that the $370,000 that was boasted here earlier didn't make me giddy when I first heard it," Webber said. "After that I asked Kinder Morgan again and they repeated the number another time again tonight."

Lennon said Kinder Morgan will take all liability if the pipeline malfunctions and any damages occur. He said if a third party causes any damages they must share the liability.

He said there is constant maintenance on the lines and new technology allows them to observe the lines for any deterioration.  

"There is constant maintenance and observation on the line and repairs being made," Lennon said. "It is the transportation of energy and it's not without issues, but we have a safety protocol in place, we monitor the pipeline, and observe the pipeline with X-rays."

He said if a leak occurs and a drop in pressure is observed, shut offs every 10 to 20 miles shut down and allow the pipe to bleed out.

He said the pipe is usually buried 3-5 feet. When asked about the danger of frost heaves rupturing the pipe line, he said they are able to monitor this. Frost heaves cause rocks to rub against the pipes which could cause deterioration over time, which if discovered are removed and retrenched.  

When asked about the possible destruction of a "worst case scenario rupture with ignition," Lennon said this is unlikely and would be hard to calculate because of a large amount of factors.

"I heard some of the opposition refer to it as the 'incineration zone' as if there was to be an incident and not just the vacating of the gas where there would be an ignition," he said. "I don't have those calculations, and I know it's based on a totality of circumstances that I just can't speculate on. I am sorry."

Lennon said Kinder Morgan uses a 400 foot study corridor at first which will shrink to 50 feet once proper environmental data is surveyed, confirmation of property lines, and agreements are made. Right now this easement corridor will effect six landowners, but this could change.

He said meetings with landowners with the actual schematics could take place this fall. He said at this point landowners can advocate for alterations to the pipeline route.

"I know it's hard for landowners to have so much uncertainty, but by the end of this year we will be in a much better position to share with individual landowners what goes on on their property," he said.

He said he has never seen a pipeline devalue property because efforts are made to locate it in the most accommodating area. If there is any devaluation, Kinder Morgan will compensate the landowner.

There is short-term leasing of property for construction and landowners will be compensated along with the permanent easement.

Lennon said businesses will also be compensated if permanent or temporary easements affect business. He said this would be the case if farms are unable to harvest their full amount of food because of construction.

"I know how precious the farms in New England are…in other areas around the country where these pipelines are more prevalent, we go through all sorts of farming communities," Lennon said.

Kinder Morgan can dig deeper and discuss possible issues with the farmers so there is little impact and the land can be restored.

When asked about landowners not entertaining Kinder Morgan's use of their land, Lennon said if it comes to it, the company may be able to take the land by eminent domain if it receives federal permitting and is issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

"Then the federal government power of eminent domain could flow through the company and, in the worst case scenario, there may be people we may have to go through that process with," he said. "It's not ideal, and we want to go through that conversation now and avoid that … but it could happen."

When asked about how Cheshire Reservoir will be impacted, Lennon said a horizontal drill will dig much deeper than the normal lines. He said depending on what they find after an environmental survey, the pipe could be anywhere from 20 feet to 100 feet deep.

Kinder Morgan anticipates filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the fourth quarter this year and approved by the fourth quarter of 2016. If certified, construction would start in the winter of 2017 and operation would start in winter 2018.

Jane Winn of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team also spoke and answered questions at the meeting.

Winn said Cheshire is considered a "low consequence zone" because there are fewer people. She said because of this, the line shutoffs are spread farther apart and use a thinner grade of steel.

"If you were in a high consequence zone where there were lots of people, the shut offs are more near two miles apart because if there is an explosion those valves are supposed to shut off," Winn said. "Ten to 20 miles with gas coming out is a lot."

Ray Fisher, chairman of Hoosac Lake District Preservation and Recreation Committee, spoke against the pipeline because of possible contamination he felt would hurt the environment.  

"In my opinion the risk to the wetlands, the fish, water life, and the drinking water vastly outweigh any benefits to the town," he said.

Eugene Melville Jr., president and business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 98 and a Cheshire native, supported the pipeline and said the money to build it would stay in the community.

"We need to put money back into the community through this project and so it can generate revenue so we can keep  to keep hospitals up and running and mom-and-pops running, Melville said. "It's going to be area employees that perform this work."

He said solar and wind projects often do not give their employees any benefits; pipelines do.

Melville said he has worked on Kinder Morgan lines before and called the company "good neighbors." He said the lines are maintained and do company does its best to fix any impacted areas. He felt the pipeline would not put Cheshire in danger.

"Natural gas is the most viable energy alternative, and there is a better chance of NASA sending the Cheshire Cheese Press to the moon than there being a catastrophic malfunction on this pipeline," he said.

The meeting was designed to inform the public so the town could vote on a nonbinding referendum in the future.


Tags: gas pipeline,   lakes, ponds,   

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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
 
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
 
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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