Posts Tagged ‘pipeline’

Posted:  September 23

Matt Hughes mhughes@timesleader.com

U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey stated in a letter Wednesday to a federal agency that he has “grave concerns” about federal oversight of interstate pipelines criss-crossing Pennsylvania.

In his letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Administrator Cynthia Quarterman, Casey, D-Scranton, requests an assessment of the resources and programs in place for the inspection of the more than 7,500 miles of interstate pipelines in Pennsylvania. He also requests that the USDOT consider establishing a pipeline inspection training and certification center in the state.

“I have grave concerns that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has not allocated enough resources to inspect and maintain pipelines properly and does not have adequate training facilities,” Casey wrote.

Casey also referenced the Sept. 10 explosion of a California natural gas pipeline that killed seven and set a San Francisco suburb alight and the July oil pipeline spill that polluted two rivers near Kalamazoo, Mich., as reminders “of just how vulnerable our national system of gas and oil pipelines is and how critical the federal inspection of this system is to protecting American lives and property.”

Although he said he is most immediately concerned with safety, Casey also declares that any pipeline accident could have serious ramifications on the delivery of heating fuel to Pennsylvanians and on industry.

“A pipeline disruption would have severe and far-reaching impacts on local communities beyond the loss of life and property,” Casey wrote.

The senator requested that Quarterman provide him with an assessment of the adequacy of the administration’s staff and resources to inspect pipelines in the state, and, if such resources are inadequate, to provide an assessment of what additional resources are required. Casey also asks Quarterman to consider establishing a training and certification center in Pennsylvania, as, in his understanding, the nearest such center is located in Oklahoma City.

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration spokesman Damon Hill said Wednesday the administration had not yet officially received Casey’s letter and therefore could not comment.

View article here.

Copyright: The Times Leader

BY STACI WILSON (Staff Writer)
Published: July 2, 2010

HOP BOTTOM – Linda and Bob Lewis didn’t sign up to be part of Susquehanna County’s natural gas plan, but the industry is coming to them anyway.

The Lathrop Twp. property owners live along Route 2002, outside Hop Bottom, where Chief Gathering, a subsidiary of Chief Oil and Gas, is constructing a 12-inch pipeline headed to a nearby compressor station.

The pipeline construction is taking place on private property along a state Department of Transportation right of way.

It is the construction along the road that has Mrs. Lewis alarmed.

“They’re going right through the yard,” she said. “I’m so upset about it. PennDOT has given out permits to run the pipeline through the right of way and they say there is nothing we can do about it.”

PennDOT spokeswoman Karen Dussinger confirmed that the agency granted the gas company permission to install the pipe in its right of way. Ms. Dussinger said the right of way varies from place to place and could range between 25 feet and 50 feet from the centerline of the road.

“Property owners often believe they own the land right up to the road itself, but that isn’t so,” said Ms. Dussinger.

She explained the right of way is an easement the state gives PennDOT in order to maintain the roads.

Mrs. Lewis is concerned about the proximity of the pipeline to her home.

“I don’t know how they can go so close to homes with a 12-inch pipeline,” she said. “If that thing blows, we’re off the map.”

She said she has known about the pipeline coming through the area since January, but only recently learned it would be built along the side of the road she lives on. She said she has tried to contact Chief Oil and Gas for months but her calls were not returned.

Officials at Chief Oil and Gas could not be reached for comment.

Department of Environmental Planning, Bureau of Oil and Gas spokesman Dan Spadoni said the agency requires erosion and sediment control plans along proposed pipeline routes. He said a storm water discharge plan may also be required on pipeline projects.

DEP would also require a construction and encroachment permit if the pipeline was going to cross any streams or impact a wetlands area. DEP does not regulate the material and construction standards or set a minimum depth the pipeline has to be laid below the ground.

“It’s scary to have a 12-inch pipeline right out in front of your home,” Mrs. Lewis said. “That’s a lot of pressure.”

Contact the writer: swilson@independentweekender.com

View article here.

Copyright:  The Scranton Times