From: The Gardner News News staff photo by JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ ASHBURNHAM — Nearly twenty concerned Ashburnham residents met with the Conservation Commission board Tuesday night to discuss the potential installment of a natural gas pipeline that would cut through the town. “We’re just hungry for information,” Ashburnham resident Cynda Joyce said. Lindsey Sundberg, who moved to Ashburnham last year, said that all of the questions she has posed to the Kinder Morgan company which owns the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company L.L.C., have gone unanswered or ignored. Ms. Sundberg was met with a round of agreements after she expressed her concerns. “They don’t answer any questions, they’re waiting until a town forum,” Ms. Sundberg said. “I feel it’s not right, I want more information with what they intend to do with my land.” Kinder Morgan has released informational packets stating that the Tennessee Gas Pipeline is a 13,900-mile project that transports natural gas from Louisiana and south Texas to the northeast section of the United States, including Boston. The proposed construction start date is April of 2017, with full-functionality of expected in November of 2018. Kinder Morgan has not released how they plan to install the pipeline, however has stated that it would be 30 feet underground. According to residents in attendance, to date, information packets have not included detailed maps. According to commission Chair Marshall Dennis, despite being a private enterprise, Kinder Morgan can claim eminent domain to use private land to build the pipeline because it is being used for a utility. Landowners can negotiate with the company, but if eminent domain is in effect the land will most likely be used. Commission Chair Dennis also said that the Ashburnham Board of Selectman had already given Kinder Morgan permission to build on town land. According to Ms. Sundberg, most Ashburnham citizens are ignoring the company, but she thinks that is not the best method. “I can try to stop it,” she said. “I can refuse to let them survey my land.” Fellow resident Joy Grzyboski took a different stance. “You can slow them down, have a little wiggle room but they’ll do what they want in the end,” she said. “I don’t want to be one of those ‘not in my backyard’ people, but the wetlands around here are a great concern. As well as the equity of the land, there’s a small payment but homeowners are still responsible for the taxes. I can’t use my land, but still have to pay for it.” Patricia Stewart, president of Ashburnham’s North Country Sustainability Center was worried that the construction would cause a radon contamination in her well water as well as the local ground water. Ashburnham has a history of high levels of radon and the Board of Health must approve all wells before being used, she said. “I would suggest all citizens start gathering evidence in case a lawsuit is needed,” Ms. Stewart said. “Get a radon test now before it’s too late.” Ms. Stewart also said that the North Country Sustainability Center will host a public forum April 23, in Fitchburg, to discuss the pipeline. She said that representatives from Kinder Morgan have been invited as well as any citizen from any town the pipeline would intersect. Commission Chair Dennis reminded citizens that the Conservation Commission board only has jurisdiction over land within 100 feet of wetlands and running water. He also noted that if Kinder Morgan planned to build within the commission’s jurisdiction the company would need to comply with all regulations and pass all performance standards before the commission would give them a permit to build. According to Mr. Dennis, citizens should contact Town Administrator Douglas Adams and request that the Board of Selectman revisit the discussion and ask Kinder Morgan to be more forthcoming with information. A representative from Kinder Morgan was not in attendance at the evening meeting.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 01:55:49 +0000
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