Iroquois Representative Explains Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Proposal To Sandy Hook Residents

By Andrew Gorosko

Iroquois Gas Transmission System representatives this week explained to a group of Sandy Hook residents the firm’s proposal to construct an additional section of natural gas pipeline near Lower Paugussett State Forest in Sandy Hook as part of its plan to increase the volume of natural gas that it transports to Long Island, N.Y.

The Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company held the informational session on April 23 at Reed Intermediate School to describe its pipeline expansion proposal and answer questions from the public. Several people who live near the route of the proposed pipeline construction attended the session, as did several public officials.

Iroquois is seeking federal approval to construct a 1.6-mile-long section of buried, 36-inch-diameter high-pressure natural gas pipeline near Lower Paugussett State Forest. The new pipeline would be installed parallel to an existing 11.3-mile-long 24-inch-diameter pipeline section that Iroquois constructed in Newtown between 1989 and 1991.

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

The proposed pipeline section would be linked to the existing pipeline in a “looping” system designed to increase the volume of natural gas that the pipeline can transport.

The KeySpan Gas East Corporation natural gas distribution company wants to transport an additional 200 million cubic feet of natural gas to Long Island daily. The proposed Iroquois pipeline loop in Sandy Hook would be one of the components required for such increased gas distribution. The natural gas carried by the interstate Iroquois pipeline is produced in western Canada.

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. Homes at the end of Canterbury Lane would apparently be the nearest houses to the new pipeline.

About eight landowners abut Iroquois’ proposed right-of-way.

The new pipeline section would pass through the general vicinity of Canterbury Lane, Somerset Lane, Kale Davis Road, Leopard Drive, Osborne Hill Road, Crabapple Lane, Paugussett Road, Forest View Road,  and Stone Bridge Trail. 

Robert Perless, Iroquois’ project manager, said that Long Island is experiencing rapid growth, especially in Suffolk County, so KeySpan wants Iroquois to transport additional natural gas to Long Island. The Iroquois pipeline crosses beneath Long Island Sound.

Mr Perless said that constructing an additional pipeline section near the state forest would have the least impact on residential properties in the general area. Construction work could start in the summer of 2008 if the required approvals are received. Construction would take between one and two months, Mr Perless said.

Questions

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal asked how near the nearest houses would be to the pipeline construction project.

An Iroquois official responded that the firm is still formulating plans for the project and should soon know the proximity of houses to the construction site.    

Mr Rosenthal also inquired about the extent of trucking needed to install the 1.6-mile-long pipeline section.

Engineering work for the project is underway, Mr Perless said. He added that detailed information on the project will be posted on the company’s website on the Internet at: www.iroquois.com.

Mr Rosenthal asked whether the firm will need to acquire more land for its pipeline project.

Iroquois would negotiate usage easements with six property owners, including the town, Mr Perless said. The company would pay for the easements, he said.

Eric Chanko of 28 Canterbury Lane suggested that Iroquois place its new pipeline section on the opposite side of its existing pipeline so that the project would have less impact on residential properties in that area.

Doing so would then place the new pipeline section off of Iroquois-owned property, Mr Perless responded. He added that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) would determine the exact location where the new pipeline section would be installed.

 State Representative Julia Wasserman suggested that the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) staff aid Iroquois in delineating the location of wetlands on the pipeline route. Mrs Wasserman stressed that wetlands should be protected during the pipeline construction project.

Susan Chanko of 28 Canterbury Lane asked about the blasting aspects of the pipeline project.

Blasting, which would be needed to create a trench in rock ledge for pipeline installation, would be preceded by pre-blast inspections at homes which fall within a certain distance of the planned blasting, Mr Perless said.

The results of such pre-blast inspections are compared to conditions following the blasting to determine whether the blasting caused property damage which would be covered by the pipeline installer’s insurance.

Mr Perless said Iroquois plans to submit its pipeline construction application to FERC in September and hopes to receive an approval for the project by March 2008. Iroquois wants to put the new pipeline section in service by November 2008, he said.

Besides the Sandy Hook pipeline expansion, Iroquois is proposing to FERC that it be allowed to construct additional pipeline looping sections in Boonville and Wright, N.Y. The firm also is proposing construction of a second gas compressor with cooling facilities in Brookfield, as well as a new gas compressor station in Milford.

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