submitted by Sandra M. Nathan
A public forum will be held on February 5 at the Stephentown Town Hall, 26 Grange Hall Road, Stephentown, on the high pressure fracked gas pipeline proposed to follow the route of the National Grid right of way in Stephentown. [private]The forum, scheduled to run from 6 to 8 pm, will feature a presentation on the health, safety and environmental concerns associated with such a pipeline and what Stephentown residents can do to oppose the pipeline. One issue that will be addressed is what is popularly called “the incineration zone,” that is, the area along a pipeline within which people and property are at high risk should an explosion occur.
There will also be an opportunity for members of the audience to ask questions and comment about specific concerns they may have, for example, their property rights.
The safety of the pipeline is of special concern in light of the four pipeline explosions in January 2015 alone and the newly released study of the National Transportation Safety Board finding, among other things, that the federal agency responsible for monitoring pipeline safety, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that is part of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, has inadequate resources. Health concerns are also raised by the fact that the pipeline carries fracked gas from eastern Pennsylvania although the fracking process itself is prohibited in New York because associated toxins are feared to have adverse impact on air, soil and water. Stop New York Fracked Gas Pipeline (SNYFGP), which is sponsoring the forum, points out that the gas will not benefit New York in any way; it is not intended for New Yorkers. Most of the gas appears to be slated for export.
It is believed that National Grid and Kinder Morgan are negotiating a deal whereby National Grid will lease or otherwise permit Kinder Morgan to use the National Grid right of way in Rensselaer County. SNYFGP has appealed to National Grid to hear the concerns of the communities that it serves in Schodack, Nassau and Stephentown and not conclude such a deal.[/private]