Letter: Critical aspects missing from Spectra plan

Re "

Algonquin pipeline expansion plan draws concern

," Sept. 3 letter:

In his overall defense of the pipeline project, the letter-writer, a Yorktown resident, sadly omitted two critical aspects of the plan that are unique to Yorktown: Spectra's plan to decimate 15 to 20 acres of Yorktown parkland, including two ballfields, for a construction staging area — and — the construction of a permanent industrial pipeline cleaning facility (aka "pigging" station), also on parkland.

Both uses constitute what New York state calls the "alienation of parkland" and would require first a home rule message from the Yorktown Town Board, and second approval by the New York State Legislature.

In June, thanks to the concerns of Councilmen Nick Bianco and Vishnu Patel, a draft home rule message failed to win the support of a majority of the four-member Town Board.

But the alienation fight isn't over. Our parkland is still at risk.

Responding to pressure from concerned residents, the Yorktown Town Board finally passed a resolution, drafted by Councilmen Bianco and Patel, that called for more studies of the many potential risks associated with the pipeline. But sadly, before agreeing to vote for the resolution, Supervisor. Michael Grace eliminated the paragraph stating that Yorktown opposed any alienation of parkland as part of the pipeline project.

The pipeline Draft Environmental Impact Statement assumes that both the pigging station and construction yard will be located in Yorktown, adding that municipal approval will be needed for these facilities.

Susan Siegel

Yorktown Heights