Iroquois Proposes Natural Gas Pipeline In Sandy Hook

By Andrew Gorosko

The Iroquois Gas Transmission System will seek federal approval to construct a 1.6-mile-long section of buried high-pressure gas pipeline near Lower Paugussett State Forest in Sandy Hook as part of a project to provide additional natural gas service to Long Island.

The section of pipeline would be installed parallel to an existing 11.3-mile-long Iroquois pipeline section that was constructed in Newtown between 1989 and 1991.

Many of the homes now standing in the area proposed for the new pipeline were constructed after the original Iroquois pipeline was installed.

The proposed 36-inch-diameter pipeline would be linked to the existing pipeline in a “looping” system designed to increase the volume of natural gas that the pipeline can transport, according to Iroquois spokeswoman Ruth Parkins.

The KeySpan Energy natural gas distribution company wants to send additional natural gas to Long Island. The proposed Iroquois pipeline loop in Sandy Hook would be one of the components required for such increased gas distribution, Ms Parkins said. The gas transported by the Iroquois pipeline is produced in western Canada.

Iroquois Project Manager Robert Perless said the 1.6-mile-long pipeline section is proposed to extend along the company’s right-of-way for its existing pipeline. The new pipeline would extend from the area near Canterbury Lane to the area near Stone Bridge Road, he said.

Iroquois likely would need to purchase land usage easements from about six property owners, including the state, as part of the pipeline installation project, he said. It would probably take one to two months to construct the pipeline, which would be buried at least three feet below ground, he said. Some blasting and tree removal would needed to install the pipeline.

The proposed pipeline would run parallel to the existing pipeline, and be situated about 25 feet away from it.

Surveying is being done to determine the best route for the looped pipeline, Ms Parkins said. Also, an environmental assessment of the project will be performed.

 Iroquois plans to submit an application for the project to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in August, Ms Parkins said. Such FERC reviews typically take six to nine months to perform.

Iroquois will ask FERC to expedite the review, in seeking to gain approval for the project by February 2008, Ms Parkins said. Approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers also is needed.

Besides the proposed pipeline loop in Sandy Hook, Iroquois also proposes similar pipeline loops in Wright, N.Y., and Booneville, N.Y. The project also calls for gas compressor facilities in Brookfield and in Milford.

“When determining a route for a pipeline… many factors are taken into consideration including safety, environmental impact, access, constructability, land use, economics, and public and landowner input,” according to Iroquois.

If Iroquois receives the required approvals for the pipeline project, construction could start in the spring/summer of 2008.

Work would include bringing workers and equipment to the site, preparing the right-of-way for construction, trenching and the installation of new pipe, and pipe testing. Site restoration work would follow the construction project.

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal said this week that he met last week with Iroquois officials to discuss the pipeline proposal.

“With any of these projects, the devil’s in the details,” he said. Issues posed by such a project include how much disruption pipeline construction would cause to people living nearby, including activities such as truck traffic and blasting, he said.

Mr Rosenthal noted that many existing houses in the area proposed for construction did not exist when the original Iroquois pipeline was installed.     

The first selectman said he wants to review the details of the proposed pipeline installation.

Iroquois plans to hold a informational session in town to explain its pipeline construction proposal to the public. That meeting may be held in April, Ms Parkins said.