Here are my notes from the Public Comment Forum pertaining to the pipeline. Tonight was a media/PR event for Dominion Pipeline. There were several booths covering categories from Community Benefits to Construction Safety each with a representative with well-rehearsed sales pitches. It appeared to me that they were hired specifically for PR to answer only a limited set of questions. If I had a environmental impact question, it could only be answered by the environmental representative. Denise Bruce put together a fabulous list of questions to ask, and to compare notes. 1. What are the rights of property owners who do not allow access to their land for surveying? --After asking four different representatives, I was sent to the media relations specialist who told me that they dont need permission, and will proceed without it. It was stressed that Dominion notifies home owners of their intent to survey via letter. 30 days after receiving the letter, they will survey. NCs land surveying law permits this access. Anyone who continues to deny access will be taken to court. There are currently 5 litigation cases in the state. 2.What is the normal reduction in property value due to easements and right of ways? --I was confidently told that no reduction whatsoever will be seen in property value. This is an alarming misnomer. When asked how he could be so sure, I was told to look up the report at FERC.gov. His exact words were,Go to FERC.gov click constitution, click environment, in report 4 around page 141 is all the information you need I have tried to find this report, and have yet to sift through all the information to locate it, but Iwill continue to look. According to the rep, a report was done by the Federal Energy Regulation Committee that says home values wont depreciate. He had no idea how, but said the committee rules that it doesnt depreciate, and thats good enough for him. I resisted an eye roll at this point. So short answer, it doesnt, because we say it doesnt 3. What is the safety record of pipelines where Dominion is a stakeholder? --Mr. Wayne Burhammer told me that accidents probably happen but they are rare, and in his 38 years, he has never seen an accident so he could not tell me anything other than anecdotal evidence.He was unaware of anything else having ever happened, but said it was improbable. I expressed my reservations due to the handling by Duke Energy of the coal ash spill, and wondered how they would prevent/clean-up in case of one of those super rare accidents. He said they would clean it up during construction, but a court case would need to determine liability; say if someone dug in a a zone were pipe existed and caused an explosion. They are not responsible for this, and would not clean it up. He assured me that there is a 24 hour hotline that could be called, and under request, a surveyor would come out and determine the safety of any projects before a dig. 4. With the state of NY banning fracking, how will the pipeline be supplied? --they told me it still plans on coming from Utica and Marcellus NY. They could not answer my question. 5. Since the gas is cheap, will customers see a reduction in utility rates? Probably, it is likely yet not guaranteed. The community benefits are dismal. A limited number of non-permanent jobs would be created to assist in building the pipeline, estimated about 2 years of work. There will also be a tax break for NC starting in 2020.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 23:58:53 +0000
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