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Informational Meeting held on Saturday
Informational Meeting held on Saturday
Saturday, December 1, 2001
PipelineAction.org
AUSTIN - An informational meeting was held Saturday at Bedichek Middle School to give the community an update on the current status of the Longhorn Pipeline. A panel of speakers included representatives from Longhorn Partners, Williams Energy, attorneys, and community leaders.
Alan Wolff, Project Manager at Williams Energy, spoke about safety measures being implemented and improvements being made to the line. The safety measures proposed significantly exceed requirements imposed by law or regulation.
In addition to the new pipe and lined trench in Southwest Austin, over 2400 feet of pipe in Southeast Austin will be lowered at specific locations that have been identified by Longhorn. The pipe will be replaced with new pipe in these locations and will be lowered to a minimum of five feet deep. Old maintenance fittings that are no longer needed will be removed, as well.
Renea Hicks, an attorney representing the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Longhorn Partners gave details about cases pending involving the pipeline, as well as other concerns.
Before Longhorn can begin operation, Federal Judge Sam Sparks must rule on whether the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the EPA and DOT is valid.
One set of documents that Judge Sparks is looking at in the case originated primarily from the White House and is being withheld from the public because of executive privilege. He also must rule on whether to approve the settlement between Longhorn and the LCRA.
Another concern is a pending case between Oxygenated Fuels Association and Office of Pipeline Safety in which the decision will determine whether the Federal Government has the authority to deny Longhorn from shipping products containing MTBE in their pipeline. Both the EA finding of No Significant Impact and the settlement between Longhorn and the LCRA were strongly influenced by the claim that Longhorn will not be shipping MTBE through the pipeline.
Very small amounts of MTBE can cantaminate water supplies, and it is suspected to be a carcinogen.
Another open legal question is whether local government has the authority to control where pipelines can be operated within city limits.
Saturday, December 1, 2001
PipelineAction.org
AUSTIN - An informational meeting was held Saturday at Bedichek Middle School to give the community an update on the current status of the Longhorn Pipeline. A panel of speakers included representatives from Longhorn Partners, Williams Energy, attorneys, and community leaders.
Alan Wolff, Project Manager at Williams Energy, spoke about safety measures being implemented and improvements being made to the line. The safety measures proposed significantly exceed requirements imposed by law or regulation.
In addition to the new pipe and lined trench in Southwest Austin, over 2400 feet of pipe in Southeast Austin will be lowered at specific locations that have been identified by Longhorn. The pipe will be replaced with new pipe in these locations and will be lowered to a minimum of five feet deep. Old maintenance fittings that are no longer needed will be removed, as well.
Renea Hicks, an attorney representing the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Longhorn Partners gave details about cases pending involving the pipeline, as well as other concerns.
Before Longhorn can begin operation, Federal Judge Sam Sparks must rule on whether the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the EPA and DOT is valid.
One set of documents that Judge Sparks is looking at in the case originated primarily from the White House and is being withheld from the public because of executive privilege. He also must rule on whether to approve the settlement between Longhorn and the LCRA.
Another concern is a pending case between Oxygenated Fuels Association and Office of Pipeline Safety in which the decision will determine whether the Federal Government has the authority to deny Longhorn from shipping products containing MTBE in their pipeline. Both the EA finding of No Significant Impact and the settlement between Longhorn and the LCRA were strongly influenced by the claim that Longhorn will not be shipping MTBE through the pipeline.
Very small amounts of MTBE can cantaminate water supplies, and it is suspected to be a carcinogen.
Another open legal question is whether local government has the authority to control where pipelines can be operated within city limits.