Pipeline decision
coming in May

By DAVID HULSE

LACKAWAXEN — Township decisions about zoning and site development applications for a controversial natural gas pipeline pumping station will be delivered at a special May 9 meeting.

Lackawaxen officials would not comment for the record on April 18 about what those decisions may be, but one source believes the project will be approved with an extensive list of zoning conditions. Most of those conditions will likely be related to safety and environmental issues at the Westcolang Road site in Bohemia.

Whether the applicant, Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP), will comply with the conditions is another issue. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has already approved the $70-million interstate “Stagecoach” project, which imparts the powers of eminent domain to TGP for the project.

Local residents of neighboring Fawn Lake Forest are appealing the FERC decision, spokesman Ron Perry said.

TGP officials say there is no new safety issue but Supervisor John McKay said his concerns about the project are more related to the condition of the 46-year-old pipeline east of the new pumping station. The station is designed to compress the gas in the pipeline feeding the New York City area, to allow more volume. The pipeline passes through northern Pike County and Sussex County, NJ after leaving the station enroute to the city.

Township supervisors scheduled a closed April 19 executive session with their counsel and environmental advisors to finalize the TGP decision.

The TGP announcement will come at 6:30 p.m. on May 9, at the beginning of an evening with five other public hearings scheduled through 8:45 p.m. The other hearings include proposals for a cell tower at the Lackawaxen fire station, a new Lackawaxen River rafting enterprise, a car wash and storage facility on Route 6 and two proposed township ordinances regarding escrow funds for fire insurance and regulation of driveway openings on township roads.