Three members of the Wisconsin Legislature told FERC this weekthey would not be supporting the Viking Voyageur project unlesssignificant safety and evironmental modifications were made.

Included among the modifications are thicker pipeline in ruralareas rather than just urban areas, automatic or remote shutoffvalves every five miles rather than the planned manual shut-offvalves every 20 miles, use of technology that minimizes the noisecreated by the Hancock Compressor Station, additional pipelineprotection at certain locations so large trucks can be driven overthe line, placement of the line away from residential and schoolareas in Wautoma, routing across farmland in a way that does notimpact irrigation or drainage, and giving property owners the rightto decide where the pipeline should be placed.

“[W]e would like to receive a response from you and VikingVoyageur Gas Transmission Co. within 30 days regarding theseconcerns. If these responses are not satisfactory, we will have nochoice but to oppose this project and to bring as many stateresources as possible to bear against the proposed pipeline,” thelegislators said. The letter was signed by Sen. Robert T. Welch,Rep. Luther Olsen and Rep. Joan Wade Spillner.

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