Beaver Brook Association Pipeline Update May 21, 2014 The volunteer trustees of Beaver Brook Association take very seriously their legal and fiduciary responsibilities to protect the properties that have been entrusted to them over the last half century and we are committed to keeping you informed of what we are doing to re-route any pipeline that threatens the land on which conservation easements have so recently been completed. Thank you to all of the people who have communicated their support of Beaver Brooks opposition to the proposed site of the Northeast Expansion Project pipeline and to those who have donated to the Beaver Brook Pipeline Defense Fund. In first defending its own conservation easements Beaver Brook continues to oppose the targeting of any conservation land as the presumed path of least resistance. While large tracts of conservation land in common ownership may be enticing for pipeline construction companies their permanent alteration for that purpose is not in the publics best interest. In fact it may be diametrically opposite the intention of those who spent years of effort and resources to place the land in conservation in the first place. Other routes including utility and transportation rights of way, rail lines (abandoned or active), etc. should be thoroughly investigated and would not permanently alter conservation land nor intrude on individual property. These alternatives are perhaps more complicated to construct and done so at a higher cost, but it is burden that is worthy of enduring for the greater good. Our elected officials should encourage the New Hampshire Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee (NHEFSEC) to consider the alternatives. Here is whats been done to date: Beaver Brook has contracted an attorney who specializes in environmental law to represent our interests in keeping the pipeline from our properties which are protected from development by conservation easements. We have learned that only professionals can propose an alternate route that government will listen to and so we have hired an engineer who has experience in seeking out and proposing alternate routes using as many existing rights of way as possible, thereby avoiding conservation land. Representatives of Beaver Brook have met with the Selectman of the Town of Hollis to share information and to keep them apprised of activities of mutual interest as well as the possibility of divergent interests. Representatives of Beaver Brook have had meetings with Tennessee Gas Pipeline and separately with Liberty Utilities. Our Pipeline Defense Fund has raised over $30,000 to help finance the expenses of hiring the above mentioned professionals. We have ordered lawn signs that say Protect Conservation - Support Beaver Brook. These signs will be available for sale at $30 each for any homeowner who wants to place them on his/her lawn. All proceeds will go directly to the Defense Fund.
Posted on: Thu, 22 May 2014 18:22:06 +0000