Feds ask pipeline planners to look at I-88 corridor

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June 14, 2012

Feds ask pipeline planners to look at I-88 corridor

By JOE MAHONEY Staff Writer The Daily Star Thu Jun 14, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

SUMMIT -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has directed the planners of the proposed Constitution Pipeline to evaluate locating the route of at least part of the project along the Interstate 88 corridor, the project's manager said Wednesday night.

The federal agency advised the pipeline engineers to "assess the viability" of using the I-88 corridor as they continue to figure out the route for running the pipeline from Susquehanna County, Pa., to the town of Wright in Schoharie County, according to correspondence from FERC to the pipeline planners.

FERC would have to approve the pipeline for it to be constructed. The Constitution Pipeline, a joint project of Williams Partners and Cabot Oil and Gas, is aiming for the pipeline to become operational in March 2015.

Chief project manager Matthew Swift said that pipeline engineers will confer with state Department of Transportation officials about the possibility of utilizing the pipeline corridor, a decision that will involve complicated considerations.

"We can't give you an answer in a week," he said.

If a highway corridor could be used for such a project, it would help to minimize the number of agricultural and residential parcels of land that would have to be traversed. Many landowners have voiced reservations about dealing with pipeline land surveyors. Some landowners have said they are refusing to cooperate in any way with the survey efforts. Representatives of the Constitution Pipeline insist most land owners are cooperating with the survey requests.

FERC also directed the planners of the $750 million project to keep the agency apprised "regarding the percentage of parcels where survey permission has been granted and any changes in the landowners lists."

One Summit resident, Andrew Mason, complained that the project was not taking a more direct route to tie the pipeline in with an existing one in Wright to avoid the New York City watershed region in the Catskills. Mason called that "more of a political decision than an environmental decision."

John Faso, a lobbyist working with the pipeline planners, responded that running the pipeline through the watershed area was impractical because it would have to traverse "many more streams and wetlands."

Two Schoharie County towns, Fulton and Middleburgh, have gone on record as being opposed to the pipeline route. However, Summit Town Supervisor Harold Vroman said his town board is planning no vote on the project.

"I don't have reservations about it," he said.

Swift said that if the pipeline is constructed, Schoharie County would get $5 million in tax benefits.