Pipeline company is forging ahead

Posted 7/6/11

MILFORD, PA — The Tennessee Pipeline Company is circumventing a refusal by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area (DWGNRA) to allow the company to extend its proposed gas pipeline …

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Pipeline company is forging ahead

Posted

MILFORD, PA — The Tennessee Pipeline Company is circumventing a refusal by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area (DWGNRA) to allow the company to extend its proposed gas pipeline through the park to markets in New York and New Jersey. They’re cutting a six-mile bypass line around the borough of Milford, thus avoiding the park altogether.

The park is operated by the National Park Service (NPS).

The problem was addressed weeks ago when representatives of the company met with the Pike County Commissioners, John Donahue, the superintendent of the DWGNRA, and staff members of Congressman Tom Marino, who agreed to approach the Congress about enacting a law that would allow the line to go through the park.

Commissioner Rich Caridi said the county was against the loop around Milford because of the messy removal of earth and the danger of storm water runoff. “Besides, most of the homeowners up there are against it also,” he said.

“We are still waiting for Congress to respond and are hoping it will act quickly,” Caridi said.

After several weeks with no response from Congress, Caridi said that the company has already begun to dig the loop.

The response to the situation came from the El Paso Corporation, which owns and operates the Tennessee Pipeline Company.

“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is currently reviewing El Paso Corporation’s certificate application for its Northeast Upgrade Project (NUP) which lists the proposed route around the DWGNRA.

“We have been advised that an Act of Congress would not be supported by the National Park Service. Enactment would be highly unlikely, and so far as we know, none of the delegation is pursuing such an effort.

“In March 2011, we filed the certificate application with FERC and subject to FERC and other regulatory approvals, we are planning a November 1, 2013 in-service date for NEUP. Once in service, NEUP will provide safe and reliable transportation of clean-burning, domestic natural gas supplies to key Northeast markets.”

Superintendent of the DWGNRA was away and could not be reached for a reaction.

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