The state of New Jersey, scene of a massive natural gas pipelineexplosion five years ago, has launched an attack on Transco’sMarketLink project – which had no connection with the blast -demanding more stringent safety requirements on interstatepipelines and additional proof there is a need for added pipelinecapacity.

The attack, fueled by citizen protests along the right-of-way,has come through the governor’s mansion and the U.S. House ofRepresentatives, which last week found fault with the FederalEnergy Regulatory Commission’s environmental review of the project.

The congressional criticism came in report language accompanyingthe FY2000 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which includesFERC’s budget. It expressed concern that the Commission’s DraftEnvironmental Impact Statement (DEIS) “insufficiently addressesenvironmental impact and public safety.” The language, sponsored byCongressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-NJ, notes “the area in NewJersey where this pipeline is planned is one of the most denselypopulated regions in the country and an explosion involving thispipeline would have devastating consequences.” It also expressedconcern about the pipeline’s route through the Great Swamp NationalWildlife Refuge.

The Appropriations Committee directed FERC to provide a 20-yearprojection and analysis of pipeline capacity needed in the area.

New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman also wants to be assured”there is sufficient demand and substantial air quality benefits tothe state of New Jersey.” In a letter to FERC, Whitman said shealso was concerned that interstate pipelines did not have to followmore stringent state safety requirements. “I cannot support thepipeline’s construction until I am assured that there are strictsafety standards in place and that there has been consideration ofthe impact on both the public and the environment.”

Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco) bought $119million worth of pipe and compressor facilities for the MarketLinkexpansion after it received the favorable DEIS. The project involvesabout 150 miles of 42- and 36-inch looping, plus additionalcompression on Transco’s mainline from the Leidy Hub in Pennsylvaniathrough New Jersey. MarketLink is designed to pick up additionalsupplies coming from western Canada through Chicago and the proposedIndependence Pipeline. (See Daily GPI, June3, 1999)

Meanwhile, Texas Eastern Transmission (Tetco) has attempted toderail MarketLink, proposing at least two alternatives that willinvolve its own system which runs through the same area, andclaiming FERC neglected to consider the turned-back capacity thatwill be available on its system to fill any increased demand. (SeeDaily GPI, June 24, 1999)

Meanwhile, it’s no surprise the New Jersey governor isconcerned. Whitman is the one who had to declare Edison, NJ adisaster area in March, 1994, when a Tetco mainline blew up,leveling eight apartment buildings and leaving 250 people homeless.Miraculously, a few minutes warning and an earthen embankmentallowed tenants to escape. Only one person died as a result of theblast. (See NGI, March 28, 1994)

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