Letter to the Editor: Safety Questions about Pipeline Under the Hudson Near Indian Point

Letter to the Editor: Peekskill Patch

As a Peekskill resident, I am very concerned as Spectra Energy rushes to complete its Algonquin pipeline expansion project by November 1st. There have been numerous mishaps as the company attempted to pull a giant 42” diameter string of welded pipe segments through a reamed bore hole under the Hudson River using the controversial horizontal directional drilling (HDD) process.

Recently, the company was issued a “serious violation” by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after losing a drill stem in a wetland outside of the approved work area, which the company proceeded to dig up without approval. Spectra ran into another problem in the same location and, alarmingly, it was granted a variance to reinforce the bore hole with rocks in order to prevent it from caving in. This is hardly the kind of leading-edge technology one would want to be used in such a high-risk circumstance.

We can't help but wonder whether the Hudson River bottom been negatively impacted - and Spectra has refused to provide details. When the pipe was stuck, pneumatic hammers were used to remove the string of pipeline. We want to know what official safety inspections have occurred, why damaged pipe being used in this high consequence area, adjacent to Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, which sections have been damaged, what types of damage were done, what repairs were conducted, and what testing has been done to ensure the integrity of the sections and repairs. I would urge that construction be halted until all federal and state permitting agencies reviewed and commented on the variance to ensure that environmental and safety issues have been fully addressed. Further, this kind of risky work should not be allowed to occur adjacent to the Indian Point nuclear power plant over weekends when agency personnel and oversight are often not available.

FERC and the involved agencies should insist that Spectra resubmit a detailed plan to pull the pipe through the bore hole that proves to the public and public officials that all safety assessments were completed and verified by Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration and New York State Public Service Commission which is delegated authority to oversee pipeline safety in NY State. The US Army Corps of Engineers, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, U.S. EPA, NY Department of State and other involved agencies must also be allowed time to fully review the situation including the 'repairs' that are being made to the damaged pipe sections. The information should be made public and verified by an independent pipeline safety expert.

When FERC released the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the AIM project, we objected to the fact that no alternative to HDD was proposed for the Hudson River crossing. Spectra shouldn't be allowed to avoid environmental review by omitting information from the EIS and then getting a variance from FERC with no opportunity for public assessment or comment. That's not the way a regulatory body is supposed to work.

Governor Cuomo has stated, “Any real problem at Indian Point is one problem too many."

We need the Governor and all of our elected officials to call for FERC to halt construction of this pipeline immediately and to insist that Spectra release its new plan to cross the Hudson River to all federal and state agencies and to the public for comments and a true environmental review.

Nancy S. Vann

Peekskill, NY