NEWS

Hundreds turn out for Algonquin pipeline hearing

Elizabeth Ganga
eganga@lohud.com

Several hundred residents pack a hall for a public hearing on the Algonquin pipeline replacement project at the Muriel Morabito Community Center in Cortlandt on Sept 15, 2014.

CORTLANDT – Opponents of an expanded natural gas pipeline running through Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties struggled to be heard Monday evening over a rally by union supporters of the Spectra Energy project before a hearing on the environmental study.

Opponents, who submitted 26,000 signatures to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates the gas industry, argued the project to replace large sections of the existing 26-inch Algonquin pipeline with 42-inch pipes could be dangerous for the region. One major fear is the proximity to the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

"The people who signed this petition realize there are better ways to get jobs than to put our families at increased risk," said Aidrian O'Connor of Purdys, who showed the boxes of petitions at a news conference before the hearing.

But about 200 members of the Laborers International Union from Westchester and Rockland rallied before the meeting at the Muriel Morabito Community Center in support of the jobs and economic development the pipeline would bring to the region. Frank Marchese Jr., a spokesman for the union, said Spectra has agreed to use union labor, local workers and local suppliers.

"There's a need now with a 50-year-old pipeline for upgrades," he said.

Spectra Energy's Algonquin Pipeline

Spectra Energy proposes to replace 20.1 miles of pipe in New York and Connecticut, much of it within existing right of ways. The company argues the project is needed to meet demand in New England from homes, businesses and electricity producers. The pipeline, more than 1,000 miles long, starts in Rockland County and stretches deep into New England. Spectra hopes to complete the work by the end of 2016.

Inside the hearing, hundreds of supporters sat on the right in orange shirts and hundreds of opponents sat on the left in red. The audience booed and cheered the speakers and at times the FERC representatives struggled to keep the audience civil. About 100 people signed up to speak.

Many elected officials have lined up against the project and an organized opposition movement has developed. Speakers at the hearing asked FERC to ensure that studies on air quality, the risk to Indian Point and other safety and health studies be done before any permits are issued.

Somers Councilman Richard Clinchy said the council doesn't have enough information to understand the impacts. He has heard there are concerns about gases from the compressors, he said.

"If so, what are the health dangers that are associated with that?" he asked.

Speakers also said they were concerned about the pipeline's proximity to several schools and spoke of their fears of catastrophic failure.

"Our lives are not disposible," said Una Curran of Peekskill. "We will not be collateral damage."

Twitter: @eganga