Jobs and an economic boost to communities impacted by the proposed ET Rover pipeline were touted by labor supporters at a recent public hearing.
On Dec. 10, several hundred attended a meeting to provide input to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at Gateway Centre in Mundy Township regarding the proposed ET Rover natural gas pipeline to take a route through Atlas, Groveland and Hadley townships. FERC representatives had urged residents to submit comments, concerns and alternate routes on the agency’s website at http://www.ferc.gov/. The deadline was Dec. 18 and ET Rover is in the prefiling for an formal application at the end of January. FERC has jurisdiction over interstate gas pipelines.
As those impacted by the proposed 800-mile natural gas pipeline from the Marcellus and Utica shale areas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, north through Michigan and ending in Canada expressed their concerns, a group of supporters of the project were also in attendance.
‘It’s hard to tell how many jobs will be created if the project goes forward,? said Chris Hennessy, spokesperson for Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA). ‘Perhaps at least 300 right here in Michigan. Maybe 10,000 across all the states impacted by the pipeline. From operating engineers to pipefitters to Teamsters’the numbers will be significant. Many of our members travel where the work is and spend time in the communities near the pipeline. That means many jobs right here in these communities.?
LIUNA is an American and Canadian labor union formed in 1903, which seeks to advance the rights and interests of its more than 632,000 members.
‘People often refer to construction jobs as temporary, but that’s the nature of the business,? he said. ‘It’s a great living for millions of workers.?
‘More than half the jobs created will be local’right here in Michigan. There’s a national agreement with the pipeline company that specifies how many workers from outside Michigan will come work on the project. We (LIUNA) are guaranteed that they will do the job on the pipeline. They (ET Rover) would want to use people from the area.?
The proposed pipeline, which ranges in size from 36 to 42 inches in diameter and would transport up to 3.25 million cubic feet of natural gas, was originally slated to follow the Enbridge Line 6B oil pipeline closely through both Groveland and Brandon townships, but plans were announced in August to shift the route north. The route change came after much controversy in Brandon and Groveland, where residents protested, and both township boards passed resolutions opposing the pipeline and the proposed route, citing safety and environmental concerns. In September Hadley and Atlas township boards also unanimously passed resolutions opposing the proposed Rover pipeline, but the route remains slated to go through those communities.
Some in attendance were surprised labor representatives were at a meeting set to hear the environmental issues regarding the project.
‘It’s my understanding the meeting went on until after 10 p.m.,? said Shirley Kautman-Jones, Atlas Township supervisor who attended the meeting. ‘I was puzzled why there were labor unions at the meeting. I realize it was public, but I thought the meeting was for the property owners and to express environmental concerns. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will now prepare an environmental impact statement given the comments by those impacted by the proposed pipeline. I know they want work, but we want to make sure there’s an alternative route for the pipeline considered.?
Hennessy responded to the concerns.
‘Keep in mind that the ET Rover pipeline is a natural gas (pipeline) not oil,? he said.
‘It’s much cleaner than oil and can be used to generate electricity at power plants’it’s part of our domestic use of energy’we have the opportunity to do that right here.?
Due to the nature of the pipeline installation, miles of rural countryside are impacted.
‘Our workers are professional and they will engage the property owners along the pipeline to assure it’s done right,? Hennessy added. ‘When they are done the area is put back the way they found it. Many times the area looks better and is improved. The pipeline workers are trained and certified to do that specific type of work.?