For
immediate release October 3, 2016 - Contact:
Susan Van Dolsen svandolsen@gmail.com
914-525-8886, Stop the
Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE); Nancy
Vann nancy_vann@hotmail.com
914-646-851-5811, Safe
Energy Rights Group (SEnRG)
Dangerous
Mishaps During Spectra/Algonquin’s Gas
Pipeline Hudson River Crossing
As
Spectra/Algonquin rushes to complete the AIM pipeline project to be operational
by November 1st, the public is alarmed by numerous mishaps as the company
attempts to pull the giant 42” diameter string of welded pipe segments through
a reamed bore hole under the Hudson River. Spectra’s attempt to pull the pipe
under the river using the controversial horizontal directional drilling (HDD)
process failed in late August. The company was issued a “serious violation” by
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after losing a drill stem in a
wetland and proceeding with work there without approval. A three-state
coalition submitted a letter to FERC on September 22nd outlining our
concerns.
While
preparing to once again attempt to drag the pipeline under the river using HDD,
Spectra/Algonquin ran into another problem in the same location when re-reaming
the hole. Alarmingly, the company was granted a variance by FERC allowing the bore
hole to be reinforced with rocks in order to prevent it from caving in. Tina
Volz-Bongar of Peekskill asks, “Has the Hudson River bottom been negatively
impacted which would be a violation? By Spectra’s own admission, there has been
a serious communication gap between Spectra, the agencies and the public.”
The
public demands that construction be halted until all federal and state
permitting agencies review and comment on the variance that FERC granted to
Spectra/Algonquin in order to ensure that environmental and safety issues are
fully addressed.
“Why should FERC make a unilateral decision to grant a variance without
consulting with the US Army Corps of Engineers, NYS Department of Environmental
Conservation, US Fish & Wildlife, US EPA, NY Department of State and other
Involved Agencies? When Spectra/Algonquin was searching for the lost drill
stem, which destroyed a wetland, trees, and potential habitat of endangered bog
turtles outside of the approved work area, they failed to notify the US Fish
and Wildlife Service in a timely fashion. Why would anyone trust the company to
communicate or act responsibly when they have a terrible track record?” said
Susan Van Dolsen of Stop the Algonquin Pipeline Expansion (SAPE), one of the
groups who sent the September 22nd letter.
The most
serious concern is that Spectra stated to FERC that “repairs” were being made
to the damaged pipe sections including replacements and re-welding. When the
pipe was stuck, pneumatic hammers were used to remove the string of pipeline
until it was eventually extracted. Courtney Williams, Vice President of Safe
Energy Rights Group (SEnRG) and a Peekskill resident who lives 400 feet from
the pipeline said, “What official safety inspections have occurred? Why is
damaged pipe being used in this high consequence area, adjacent to Indian Point
Nuclear Power Plant? Where is the accounting of which sections have been
damaged, what types of damage were done, what repairs were conducted, and what
testing has been done to ensure the integrity of the sections and repairs?”
FERC and
the involved agencies should insist that Spectra/Algonquin resubmit a detailed
plan to pull the pipe through the bore hole that proves to the public and
public officials that all safety assessments were completed and verified by
Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration and New York State Public
Service Commission which is delegated authority to oversee pipeline safety in
NYS. This information should be made public and verified by an independent
pipeline safety expert.
Suzannah
Glidden of SAPE said, “Why is this kind of risky work adjacent to the Indian
Point nuclear power plant allowed to occur over weekends when agency personnel
and oversight are questionable? Is a second attempt during the second week of
October to pull through the string of pipe planned for the weekend? The events
following the loss and attempted recovery of the drill stem, the removal of the
stuck pipe, and the ways in which the company responded have demonstrated that
the company cannot be trusted to follow all environmental and safety
regulations and procedures.”
The
Hudson River crossing is in a highly sensitive region and there was no
contingency plan filed with FERC if the HDD pullback did not succeed. Thus, the
company’s actions were motivated by expediency and not by public safety and
environmental concerns. Nancy Vann, President of SEnRG, stated "When FERC
released the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the AIM project, we
objected to the fact that no alternative to HDD was proposed for the Hudson
River crossing. Spectra/Algonquin shouldn't be allowed to avoid environmental
review by omitting information from the EIS and then getting a variance from
FERC with no opportunity for public assessment or comment. That's not the way a
regulatory body is supposed to work."
The
massive Spectra AIM high-pressure natural gas pipeline next to an aging,
troubled nuclear power plant should never have been approved. Another incident
occurred at the plant on Friday, a malfunction of one of the turbines that
resulted in an oil spill, and Governor Cuomo stated, “Any real problem at
Indian Point is one problem too many. This is a nuclear power plant that's
located next to a very densely populated area, so we take situations like this
seriously."
We urge
all of our elected officials to call for FERC to halt construction of this
pipeline immediately and to insist that Spectra release its new plan to cross
the Hudson River to all federal and state agencies and to the public for
environmental review and comment.
