Southern York County Life

In case anyone missed the following article in York Sunday News, please see article below.

I cannot stress the importance of southern York county residents attending this meeting. For those unfamiliar with the proposed pipeline project, the pipeline will be coming through Hopewell Township. Not one resident will benefit from this project, including the farmer who’s land it will be going through! Our school districts won’t even benefit from this project!

In my opinion, the master minds behind this project were off to a bad start from the get go. They staked out the farmer’s land and didn’t even notify him that they were going to do this. He discovered the stakes when he returned home from work one day. After the farmer investigated who placed the stakes on his land, the local newspaper interviewed the project manager who was quoted as saying that land owners would be notified via letter within two weeks. The farmer was notified in writing and the farmer even met with the shakers and movers of this project! The farmer is not pleased with this project but his hands are tied at this point.

Please attend this meeting!

Thank you!

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Meeting set on pipeline project
The Wednesday gathering will discuss the proposed line in southern York County.
By BARB KREBS

For the Daily Record/Sunday News

Article Last Updated: 05/11/2008 01:34:10 AM EDT

Shrewsbury Township will host a public meeting with representatives of Williams, the company that is proposing to install a natural gas pipeline across southern York County.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Shrewsbury Township Building, 11505 Susquehanna Trail South.
Williams transports 12 percent of the natural gas used in the United States, most of it to utility companies such as power plants, company representative Chris Stockton said.

The company is proposing a 250-mile extension of its Transco pipeline that would run from Ohio to York County and would run through eight counties in southern Pennsylvania, including York and Adams.

“We are in the initial stages, and nothing has been finalized. We are doing the preliminary work talking to people and making sure there is sufficient customer support to justify the extension,” Stockton said.

Survey crews are currently conducting field studies and gathering information for the proposed connection, but construction is not likely to begin until 2011, he said.

Before work can begin, Williams must obtain Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certification and state and local permits and hold a series of public meetings and workshops to explain the project and answer questions, Stockton said.

The line is proposed to pass through agricultural areas and Williams is very sensitive to farmers’ concerns, Stockton said.

“There are a lot of regulations in place, a lot of things we have to do to protect the farmland and to make sure the land is as productive as it was before we got there. Top soil is segregated, the land is de-compacted after the work is completed and we come back and inspect to make sure everything was done correctly,” he said.

The pipeline is buried at a minimum of 3 to 5 feet to avoid interfering with farming practices, he said.

The extension, known as the Rockies Connector, will bring natural gas from the Rocky Mountains. It is part of the larger Northeast Supply proposal and would connect Williams’ Transco Station 195 in York County to the eastern terminus of the Rockies Express pipeline in Monroe County, Ohio, he said.

AT A GLANCE

--- What: A public meeting to discuss a proposal to install a natural gas pipeline across southern York County

--- When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

--- Where: Shrewsbury Township Building, 11505 Susquehanna Trail South

More information: http://www.williams.com/rockiesconnector

JH - 13 May 2008 04:39 PM

In case anyone missed the following article in York Sunday News, please see article below.

Or missed the other two posts

I think you need to understand that this is NOT a done deal.  Williams is one of 2 companies who are proposing to extend gas pipelines through the county.  From all the literature I’ve read, Williams makes it sound like it is going to happen at any time.  This is not true.  If you want more information, you can contact the York County Planning Commission.  One of the staff planners has information on both companies, and what they are proposing.  He will probably be at the meeting on Wednesday.

I think you need to understand that this is NOT a done deal.  Williams is one of 2 companies who are proposing to extend gas pipelines through the county.  From all the literature I’ve read, Williams makes it sound like it is going to happen at any time.  This is not true.  If you want more information, you can contact the York County Planning Commission.  One of the staff planners has information on both companies, and what they are proposing.  He will probably be at the meeting on Wednesday.

I wish I could agree with you Ksasma.

I hope you don’t mind if I ask you this question-- have you spoken to the farmer who’s land this gas pipeline is going to pass through?

I spoke with him Monday evening and also spoke with his wife Tuesday afternoon. Both appear to be of the opinion that it is a done deal and there is nothing they can do to stop the pipeline from coming through their property. 

Representatives of the company met with the farmer for a couple of hours. The meeting did not leave him feeling good after what the company representatives told him. 

I’ve known this farmer for almost 30 years. His farmland compared to others in the area is not as hilly and deeply sloped. His farmland is pretty level. In my opinion, I would refer to his farmland as being prime farm land.

If you know something the farmer doesn’t, I strongly suggest you contact him and share with him what knowledge/information you have. I’m sure he would be very grateful. 

P.S. Please keep in mind thousands of county residents didn’t think that Lauxmont Farms was a done deal either. I feel safe in saying that had county commissioners Mitrick and Kilgore been re-elected for a second term, Lauxmont Farms would have been gone!  There were a lot of behind the scenes deals being cut that most county residents were unaware of that were done at county taxpayers expense.  You can check the county commissioner meeting minutes. On the other hand they may have been amended at the demand of commissioners Mitrick and Kilgore.    I was present at quite a few of those county commissioners meetings regarding Lauxmont Farms and I know what I said.  The adult Kohr offspring lost their mother over this. 

Last month I was in the skyline drive area of VA. there is a natural gas pipeline being put in there now. Speaking with some of the locals I learned that all of the excavating is causing a major problem with the water tables. I’m not exactly sure where this pipeline is planned, but it seems that the last thing that we need is more water issues.

If they run a pipeline from the Rockys through my farm, it better be full of Coor’s Light!  Even then they will probably develope a “leak” HA!

I am positive this is not a done deal.  There are 2 companies vieing for the right to lay a pipeline and neither has been awarded a contract to do so.  I strongly encourage you to attend the meeting tonight to find out the truth.  Williams has been implying that it has the right to trespass on private property, however this is not the truth.  Again, I encourage you to contact Roy at the YCPC (771-9870) to find out what is really going on.

Last month I was in the skyline drive area of VA. there is a natural gas pipeline being put in there now. Speaking with some of the locals I learned that all of the excavating is causing a major problem with the water tables. I’m not exactly sure where this pipeline is planned, but it seems that the last thing that we need is more water issues.

Thank you for sharing this information. 

If that is one thing this area does not need are problems with the water tables. The area has a difficult time as it is with having sufficient water. 

The pipeline is planned on Hickory Road. If you are coming off of Route 24 a/k/a Barrens Road, turn down Hickory Road, you will see a sign [or at least there used to be a sign] Manifold Excavating. That is the farm. You will see the stakes on the farm.

I am positive this is not a done deal.  There are 2 companies vieing for the right to lay a pipeline and neither has been awarded a contract to do so.  I strongly encourage you to attend the meeting tonight to find out the truth.  Williams has been implying that it has the right to trespass on private property, however this is not the truth.  Again, I encourage you to contact Roy at the YCPC (771-9870) to find out what is really going on.

I definitely plan on being there!

Last month I was in the skyline drive area of VA. there is a natural gas pipeline being put in there now. Speaking with some of the locals I learned that all of the excavating is causing a major problem with the water tables. I’m not exactly sure where this pipeline is planned, but it seems that the last thing that we need is more water issues.

Where exactly in the skyline drive area were you? I would like to do a search to see if there are any articles on this. 

If the excavation was being done approximately 50 feet or 100 feet, I could understand problems with the water tables. This pipeline is going to be buried approximately 3 to 5 feet on the farmland.

One of my concerns is over the years all the explosions that occurred in York City caused by gas pipelines due to outdated pipelines. Many people lost their homes during the explosions and a couple of businesses were also affected. The gas company got off scott free and the homeowners and business owners had to turn to their insurance companies to handle claims. The excuse given to the owners was that nothing could prove the gas company was at fault.   

The city cleaned up the debris and had the audacity to charge the homeowners and business owners. The owners could not afford to pay the outrageous bill for debris clean-up and their insurance policy did not cover debris clean-up. The mayor didn’t care. He still held the owners responsible. 

One of the reasons cited in local newspapers was that the pipeline was buried only a couple of feet below the earth’s surface.  

Thanks. 

Just a last minute reminder about the meeting tonight. This might be the only chance residents have to raise questions and concerns.   

JH - 13 May 2008 04:39 PM

In Not one resident will benefit from this project......................................... Our school districts won’t even benefit from this project!

Williams isn’t a retailer of natural gas. They are a wholesaler.

One of my concerns is over the years all the explosions that occurred in York City caused by gas pipelines due to outdated pipelines.

These are all the local retailers of nat. gases faults, not the major suppliers like Williams. When have you ever heard of them having a problem like that? Completely differant type and set-up of pipes and pipelines.

Williams isn’t a retailer of natural gas. They are a wholesaler.

These are all the local retailers of nat. gases faults, not the major suppliers like Williams. When have you ever heard of them having a problem like that? Completely differant type and set-up of pipes and pipelines.

I hear you and I understand what you are saying. Considering no one in Pennsylvania will benefit from the pipeline so we were told at the meeting, the type of pipes/pipelines used by the retailers won’t be used on this project because it would cost Williams too much money, tsk, tsk, tsk my heart really breaks for them. 

Their first goal is to make their CEO and shareholders wealthy and happy so they can award them megamillion dollar retirement packages and annual salaries.  The heck with the enviroment, the heck with the land owners, it’s all about them!

BTW, Columbia Gas’ name was brought up at the meeting.

Where exactly in the skyline drive area were you? I would like to do a search to see if there are any articles on this.

JH
The people I spoke with are in Stanardsville, Va. You might want to contact them through their website @ http://www.blueridgepottery.com/BRPMain.html. I was told that the pipeline is approximately 10 feet down.
PS if your ever in the area they have a great pottery store, its near Charlottesville, Va.

I can’t wait to see whats next SLUDGE DUMPING, CAFOS (EXCUSE ME HOG FARM), GAS LINE it seems that corporate America can get away with anything they want over those poor country folk!

The best offense is a good defense before the next attack!

Williams is more of an energy services company.  They provide infrastructure for lots of things.  This is a big money project backed by some big companies in a time of extreme sensitivity to energy availability.  The Federal Government has already declarerd this area an ‘Energy Corridor’, and ultimately they will have the final decision.  I would like to believe that we could fight this, but despite statments to the contrary, it is a done deal, and it will go through.  The line itself may wander a bit from the original location, but it will go through.  If you are a big enough donor to the polotical party in power at the time, there is a fair chance that your property will be found ‘unsuitable’ to run the pipeline through, but otherwise, perpare for some diggin’.

Here is a link to the other company that is proposing to put a gas pipeline through York County.  Only one line will be approved (if any).  http://www.yorkdailyrecord.com/ci_9262955