WHITNEY ROYSTER Star-Tribune environmental reporter | Posted: Saturday, July 22, 2006 12:00 am
JACKSON - Based on the amount of public comment at a hearing for a proposed natural gas pipeline from Merna to Jackson, it appears everyone is in favor of the project.
Either that, or no one knew about the hearing. Not one member of the public showed up Thursday night to ask questions or give testimony about a proposed pipeline that will cross the Hoback River nine times, will snake along a highway and through some rugged terrain.
In fact, all 10 people at the hearing, in front of members of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, were representatives of Lower Valley Energy, the company proposing the 49.7-mile pipeline.
But the PSC staff asked some tough questions that members of the public might be wondering.
David Piroutek, the commission's engineering supervisor, asked about the river crossings.
Chad Jensen, vice president of Lower Valley, said Bridger-Teton National Forest officials have advised the company to "get in and get out," and the pipeline can be trenched and laid in the river bed in four hours.
Mary Byrnes, a commissioner with the PSC, asked if the flow of the river will be stopped to lay the pipeline.
Jensen said the agency has talked about damming half of the river while pipe is being laid. He said the Forest Service has said it will examine that project as it gets nearer to construction.
The Hoback River is eligible for designation as a "wild and scenic" river.
Lower Valley wants to build the pipeline to transport liquid natural gas from Merna to a distribution facility in Jackson, eliminating truck trips on the highway. The energy company wants to begin construction next summer and complete the project by winter. It is estimated to cost $12.5 million.
The pipeline will be buried about six feet deep, except in areas of landslides along the highway. There, the pipeline will be above ground.
Piroutek asked why Lower Valley Energy can't bury the line deeper to avoid problems with the line above ground.
Jensen said the concern is that the line would have to be buried so deep it would actually trigger slides.
An environmental impact statement was released for the project last month, and public comment is being accepted through Aug. 25. It is expected the Wyoming Department of Transportation will have comments on the proposal, as the pipeline extends through its right of way in some areas.
The pipeline is mostly on Forest Service lands, with pieces on state and private lands. Energy officials said they have secured rights of way on private land, although the project has not been approved. The company needs, in part, a certificate from the PSC.
Currently, tanker trucks bring gas from near LaBarge to the Lower Valley Energy service station at least once a day. Between 2000 and 2003, there were between 392 and 492 trips per year. By 2010, that traffic is expected to increase to 655 trips per year.
Each truck carries 830,000 standard cubic feet of natural gas. The pipeline would transport 3 million cubic feet per day.
Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@tribcsp.com.