by Thaddeus Flint
Gas and gravel were the topics of the night at the New Lebanon monthly Board meeting on Tuesday night.
A group called Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline (SNYFGP) started things off with a talk on a new pipeline which might one day bring high pressure natural gas through the area to New England and other places yet unknown from the fracked oil fields out west.
[private]There are already three pipelines going through New Lebanon, but the next one proposed alongside those already there is a “different species,” said Bruce Shenker of SNYFGP. This one will transport gas at a much higher pressure. And, as the gas is produced through fracking, which involves injecting various chemicals – many toxic, some cancerous – into the ground at high pressure, these dangerous chemicals could be a risk to the area that the pipeline would cross.
“Nobody denies those chemicals are there,” pointed out Shenker. “There is nothing to prevent [the fracking] chemicals from going along for the ride.”
Part of that “nobody” is Kinder Morgan, the owner of Tennessee Gas Pipeline which controls the pipelines already in place. Kinder Morgan proudly refers to itself as the “fourth largest energy company in North America” and recently consolidated itself in a deal worth $71 billion.
Kinder Morgan says the new pipeline is needed to increase gas supplies to New England to offset increasing electricity demand. The pipeline is safe they say. “Kinder Morgan is committed to public safety, protection of the environment and operation of its facilities in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations,” says a handout on the Northeast Energy Direct Project, the name of the new pipeline.
Accidents, however, do happen. According to a SNYFGP handout, natural gas transmission line accidents “number over 990 with 137 injuries and 34 fatalities since 2003.” And the large size and pressure of the planned pipeline make accidents even more severe. “Explosions of a pipeline this size and at this high pressure…are catastrophic and the fires are fed by many miles worth of fuel…leading to prolonged, extremely high temperature burns.”
Shenker explained that while New Lebanon and the other towns along the route would be saddled with all these new risks, they won’t be getting all that much in return.
“We’re not getting any gas from this,” Shenker pointed out, and, “We probably aren’t getting any jobs either.”
Kinder Morgan, like many large companies, paints a rosy picture when it comes to the future if they get their way. “During construction, this project will generate millions of dollars for state and local economies through spending by workers on living expenses, entertainment and meals,” reads the Kinder Morgan handout. “Some temporary jobs will be created…towns and counties will also see a significant increase in annual property tax revenues.”
Shenker pointed out that these temporary booms are just that, temporary. When the film “Taking Woodstock” was being shot in town back in 2008, there was a noticeable increase in spending at local businesses. That’s all gone now, and even the motel they used as a motel is gone as well.
“It goes away very quickly,” said Shenker. What would be left is the pipeline, however. And SNYFGP believes that those land owners who allow the pipeline to cross their properties could see the value of their properties drop since future buyers don’t really want to buy a place near a pipe full of explosive – possibly carcinogenic – gas that might raise insurance costs and make getting a mortgage difficult. A new pumping station might also be built, and the noise from that is surely not going to be welcome by a Town already mulling over possible new noise ordinances.
At the end of the SNYFGP presentation Shenker asked that the Board consider passing a rather complex 17 point resolution basically saying that the Town is opposed to the pipeline and that Kinder Morgan will meet “vigorous opposition” from New Lebanon should they try and go forward with the current plan.
“We are not even close to that,” said Town Supervisor Mike Benson when the resolution was brought up later in the night. While SNYFGP made some good points, they are still an opposition group, and their arguments could be seen as rather one-sided. Nobody has heard yet from Kinder Morgan. And some residents have no problem with having the pipeline cross their land and are happy to sell the easements.
“People who are for the pipeline should be heard as well,” said resident Tony Murad.
Benson said he would like to see a larger public session, with point and counterpoints, and hopefully with Kinder Morgan around to give their version of the story.
“I think, at this time, that is our responsibility,” said Benson.
Gravel
The rest of the night was more or less gravel related. Gravel might be seen as just so much dirt by many people, but for Towns with plenty of roads, it’s as good as gold.
Gravel enthusiasts who would like to own their own gravel pit in New Lebanon might soon be in luck. The old West Hill Gravel Pit is being discussed for possible sale.
“It doesn’t do me any good as far as the Highway Department,” said Highway Superintendent Jeff Weinstock, who added that the road to the pit mostly “invited people to bring their garbage down there.”
A vote was taken, and all Board members, with the exception of Benson who abstained, voted in favor of hiring an appraiser so the Town can get a better idea of the value of the pit.
Councilman Bruce Baldwin, however, cautioned that whoever is hired to do the appraising must be “neutral” so as to avoid conflicts of interest. The Town’s attorney, Andy Howard, said he would put together a list of possible candidates for the job.
The Board also voted, with all in favor, to buy a used gravel screener from the Town of Chatham for $40,000. The idea of buying a used screener had been brought up earlier in the summer, and the purchase was intended to go out to bid. Buying from another Town, however, does not have to go to bid.
“They don’t have a gravel yard,” said Weinstock, “and we have a gold mine.” This gold mine has saved the Town’s taxpayers “a million dollars” in the last 16 years or so, pointed out the Highway chief. The ability to make your own quality gravel when you need it and how you need it is especially important. Weinstock estimates that New Lebanon could sell the small screener the Town currently owns for around $20,000, which would partially offset the cost of the newer larger one, a Rawson 3830. The rest of the money would come from the Highway Department’s capital reserve account. Baldwin noted that in the current pit “we have close to 15 years left of material” so there was little worry New Lebanon would end up like Chatham, with a screener but nothing to screen.
A Night At The Museum
The night ended with some residents wondering how it was that the new living museum in town, Behold! New Lebanon, which will be opening at the end of August, managed to get so far into the development stage without anyone from the Town knowing about it.
“It was sprung on the Board,” said Johanna Johnson-Smith, of the presentation given at the last Board meeting by some representatives from the Museum. “Nobody had a clue what they were talking about. Why?” she said.
“I don’t know,” replied Benson, who did know about the Museum but wasn’t at that meeting. “Do they live under a rock?” he asked.
The rest of the Board did not indicate whether they, in fact, lived under rocks or not. The Museum has been discussed by the Economic Development Committee, but why the EDC did not share the project with the full Board is unclear.
Resident and Planning Board Member Trina Porte also felt that the lack of communication from Behold! was surprising, saying that the way the Museum blindsided the Board at the last moment was “weird.”
Apparently Kent Pratt and Sissy Hernandez from the Building, Planning and Zoning Department are now working with Behold! to make sure they have all the required permits. But for Johnson-Smith and some other residents, this was too little too late. “This affects the people of this Town,” said Johnson-Smith, “and they never asked the people of this Town if we want all these tourists coming here.”[/private]