NBC NEWS.
Even before Wednesday's Kansas City gas explosion, concern over pipelines captured multiple headlines. The week started with the very first network coverage of the Spectra pipeline, when NBC news aired a powerful segment highlighting the lack of regulation. ProPublica’s Lena Groeger explained, “It’s not really a matter of if a pipeline will fail, but when it will fail," noting that the lack of federal inspectors means "it's the company's own inspectors that do most of the on-the-ground inspection, and they can basically do it however they want." NBC found more than 700 significant pipeline problems since January 2010, a majority blamed on equipment failure, improper operation or corrosion. The news team compared a potential explosion in the West Village to the infamous San Bruno, CA explosion, noting an average of 68,000 residents per square mile, vs. San Bruno's 3,000.

CHELSEA NOW.
As writer Eileen Stukane reported, "Valentine’s Day was anything but soft lights and whispers" at the Community Board 4 (CB4) Waterfront, Parks and Environment Committee meeting where Spectra was on the agenda. She noted, "Environmental activists have been bringing these issues to the attention of Community Board 2’s (CB2’s) West Village residents for more than a year. Now it was Chelsea’s turn to reckon with the pipeline." The "grilling" by the audience of 80-100 was termed, "intense."

Anthony Leto, Con Edison’s rep, reported that Con Edison would make two "test pits" on either end of their pipeline, a process we have since learned may begin tomorrow, Feb 25th. The Con Ed section of the Spectra pipeline will run up 10th Avenue from Gansevoort Street to West 15th Street. A judge recently ruled that Con Edison needs only a street opening permit from the DOT in order to do this work, and is not required to do an Environmental Impact Study.

The unintentionally droll work notification released by Con Ed stated, "This work to expand our gas infrastructure is part of our partnership with building owners and the City of New York to reduce emissions and improve air quality by converting buildings burning #4 and #6 oil to cleaner-burning natural gas. We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause."

One interesting piece of info that came out of this discussion, was how high the pressure is running through existing pipes all over the city. Although Mr. Leto explained that pressure is adjusted throughout the system, a vast number of old pipes (at diameters of 20"-36") are already running at pressures up to 350psi. We had previously been under the impression that only the new pipes being installed as part of the Spectra line would run at pressures that high. This is actually even more disturbing, because the San Bruno pipe, which was a 50 year-old steel pipe, was running at about that pressure when it exploded and took out a suburban neighborhood in California.

This means not only are we at risk from the new Spectra/Con Ed line, we're at risk from much older pipes running at equal pressure. To understand how leaky old pipes are, check out this study which mapped gas leaks in Boston; a similar study of NYC is currently under way. Although Mr. Leto noted that the new pipes being constructed are rated to handle up to 1000 psi, we'll note that the San Bruno pipe was also rated higher, and was likewise running at reduced pressure when a faulty weld gave way and caused the pipe to split open lengthwise.

As of this writing, there has been no word as to what response may come from CB4, whose next meeting is this Wednesday night. CB4 Chair, Corey Johnson, who is running for Christine Quinn's City Council seat, is also a member of VID, the Village Independent Democrats, which was party to the lawsuit that attempted to block construction of this pipeline. At this time, CB4 officials maintain they are only now "educating themselves" about the Con Ed extension.

Sign the Pledge to save the Delware River Basin: 10,000 Signatures are needed on this petition issued by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. Tree sitters and citizens have been fighting the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) and the Northeast Upgrade Project (NEUP), which are part of a network that directs gas to NYC markets. Pipeline builders rushed their tree clearing plans in order to avoid the possibility that they might be stopped by The Delaware Riverkeeper's efforts, including pending legal action. As part of the local protests, Gifford Pinochet, a local resident, had stationed himself high up in a tree in the middle of the forest being cut down. Early on Thursday, his support team was arrested. Delaware Riverkeeper is hopeful that this citizen's petition and protest will move the DRBC to step in. Pledges will be presented to the DRBC on March 6th in Trenton.

Fri., March 1 @ 1:30 pm, Rochester: Painted Post Lawsuit: An Article 78 proceeding filed by the Sierra Club, the Coalition to Protect New York, People for a Healthy Environment, Inc. and five individual petitioners seeks a preliminary injunction against bulk water sales by the Village of Painted Post in Steuben County, NY, to a subsidiary of Shell Oil for use in hydrofracking in Pennsylvania. The shipments are being made by rail to PA. The Monroe County Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd., Rochester. More info here.