Proposed Gas Pipeline for NJ may impact Newport

[Sandy]

Texas company courts property owners to construct natural gas pipeline in Jersey City, Bayonne
By The Jersey Journal
March 07, 2010, 2:02PM

Spectra Energy president & CEO Greg Ebel

A Texas energy company interested in running a natural gas pipeline through Bayonne and Jersey City is quietly courting landowners in the two cities, Journal staff writers Charles Hack and Melissa Hayes report in tomorrow's Jersey Journal.

Spectra Energy, of Houston, held a gathering for property owners at the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City March 3, according to the reporters.

The company will need to acquire easements in order to run the 16-mile, 30-inch pipeline from Staten Island through the cities to Manhattan.

Spectra has signed a pre-agreement with Con Edison, which supplies gas and electricity to New York.

The company said it would privately negotiate with landowners and would also pay "prevailing" taxes for using the land.

More meetings are planned. The company sent letters to owners of properties that could be affected by the project.

The next meeting is Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at School 9 on Mercer Street in Jersey City.
Meetings will be held in Bayonne March 15 at the CWV Post 1612 on 23rd Street and the 17th at Trinity Church on Broadway from 6 to 8 p.m.

The meetings include maps with proposed routes for the pipeline.

Jersey City officials, including Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy and Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop, oppose the pipeline, along with the LeFrak Organization, the builders of the Newport community on the Jersey City waterfront..

"Newport will oppose in the most vigorous way the use of any portion of its property for the natural gas pipeline proposed by Spectra Energy," Senior Vice President of Development Marcy Boyle told the Journal staff writers.

"This pipeline does not belong in a dense urban area and will severely compromise the redevelopment of the remaining areas of Newport," she said.

But Bayonne officials and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, D-West New York, are still on the fence about the proposal.

Through a spokeswoman, Sires said he is "studying the issue closely."

Bayonne city spokesman Joseph Ryan said it would be premature to comment without additional information from Spectra.

First Ward Councilman John Connolly, whose ward includes Bergen Point, which the pipeline would likely pass through, did not return phone calls.

Third Ward Councilman Gary LaPelusa said he is concerned the about safety of his constituents.

Marylee Hanley, a Spectra spokeswoman, wouldn't identify the company's preferred route for the pipeline, and said company representatives will show attendees various options at the meetings.

About safety concerns, Hanley, told the Journal reporters Spectra has been installing pipeline in the state for 50 years.

"Spectra Energy is dedicated to the safe operation of our facilities and to the protection of our employees, public and environment," she said.

Spectra plans to file a pre-application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by June. A formal application would follow in December with the hopes of complete the project in 2013, she said

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[Kate]

There is reason for concern. A broken pipeline could cause major damage to the property, and the environment.

I wonder, how polluted is the Hudson River? Can we swim in it? Are the fish edible?

[Sandy]

Apparently the planned pipeline is expected to run through sections of Newport, which poses a safety risk to residents. Pipelines emit gases, causing people to get sick.

Few turn out in Jersey City to hear safety assurances on extending natural gas pipeline through cityThursday, March 11, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Braced for a large crowd, more than a dozen Spectra Energy representatives in matching blue shirts waited to talk residents through an array of maps inside a Jersey City school Tuesday night. The representatives almost outnumbered the attendees.

The company wants to extend its existing natural gas pipeline in Linden and Staten Island through Bayonne and Jersey City to Manhattan.

The meeting, held at School 9, was the second in Jersey City and two more are planned for Bayonne next week.

Spectra's Project Manager Ed Gonzalez said the route could change, but as proposed, it would extend from Staten Island under the Kill Van Kull through Bayonne along First Street, up Lexington Avenue to Second Street and continuing to the Fifth Street Connector to Route 440, in some places passing through industrial parks alongside the roadway, before reaching Jersey City.

The pipeline would continue along 440 in Jersey City to the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 78. It would follow Caven Point Road then pick up 78 again. The pipeline would cut into Jersey City around 18th Street and go out Long Slip behind the A&P and Target in Newport to cross the Hudson River to Manhattan.

Jersey City Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano, whose ward would be impacted by the proposed route, said he had expected a bigger turnout.

Jersey City resident Denise Katzman, who attended the meeting, said: "I'm very concerned about them wanting to plop this stuff in dense areas and saying verbally they care about our health, they care about our environment, but can we get that in writing, can we get them to post multimillion-dollar bonds?"

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission doesn't require public hearings until the company submits an application. Spectra plans to do that in June.

Gonzalez said the company has about 40 employees staying in Jersey City and that in 2012 when work begins it would create 100 jobs. He said 500 jobs would be created in 2013 when construction is underway.

Bayonne and Jersey City stand to make millions annually in tax revenue.

But some Jersey City Council members, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, Sen. Frank Lautenberg and the LeFrak Organization, Newport's major developer, say they have serious concerns about safety.

Gonzalez said for residents worried about safety, the entire pipe is X-rayed before it is filled with gas to ensure all the welds are secure. In addition, every seven years the company runs equipment through the entire pipeline to check for weak spots or damage.

[youngc]

As if the danger from the Holland Tunnel vent wasnt bad enough

[discoveredyou]

is there any way we can stop that ?

[Lenin]

Perhaps they could run the pipeline from the Meadowlands to Manhattan by using the unused area in the tunnels just above the PATH train.
Or perhaps it could berouted under the turnpike and hung from the George Washington bridge?

If it does run through Jersey City I DO hope it passes under City Hall.