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Monday, June 19, 2006
Enviroment - Stories today
New blog. James Bruggers, environmental reporter for the Louisville Courier Journal, whose stories have been cited frequently by the ILB, has just started a blog of his own, Watchdog Earth, via the LCJ. Access it here.
Pipeline to cut through Morgan County. The Martinsville Reporter-Times reported Saturday, in a story by Ron Hawkins:
The path of the proposed Rockies Express Pipeline through Morgan County would cut through the site of a major proposed housing development, possible Interstate 69 construction and across at least three creeks and rivers.The partnerships behind the pipeline will conduct open houses at 6 p.m. June 28 at the Franklin Comfort Inn, 2122 Holiday Lane, and June 29 at the Plainfield Hampton Inn, 2244 Hadley Road. No formal presentation will be given, but maps of the pipeline’s route will be on display. * * *
The proposed pipeline is a 1,663-mile pipeline system that would transport natural gas from Colorado and Wyoming to markets in the Midwest and eastern United States. The project is expected to cost $4 billion. The western portion from Colorado to Missouri is scheduled for completion by December 2007.
“We’re having an open house to get people comfortable with what we’re doing,” Kinder spokesman Rick Rainey said.
The pipeline is being built because the Rocky Mountain region is the fastest-growing source of natural gas and to provide a more reliable, secure pipeline, Rainey said. The partners are hoping to receive federal approval of the eastern portion by February 2008 and start construction early in the spring of 2008. The targeted operational date is December 2008 for portions of the project and June 2009 for the entire pipeline, according to the partners’ Web site.
State approvals also are required, but representatives of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Department of Natural Resources say there are no permits on file either under the group partnership or under the names of the individual companies.
In northern Morgan County, Rockies Express would cut across McCracken Creek, White Lick Creek, the west fork of the White River and possibly wetlands.
The pipeline would cross Ind. 37, which is slated to become Interstate 69. INDOT representatives have said they plan for that construction to begin in 2008.
The pipeline also would cut through the planned $500 million Stonebridge Club development in Green and Harrison townships. * * *
The temporary right-of-ways required during construction will be 125 feet wide and the permanent right-of-ways will be 50 feet when the work is done, according to company representatives.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 19, 2006 08:10 AM
Posted to Environment