Groveland Twp.- Under pressure from legislators and township supervisors for information on their proposed natural gas pipeline, ET Rover representatives met with officials in a Tuesday morning meeting that was closed to residents and media.
‘We asked for a meeting for residents, but they made it clear they just wanted to meet with officials,? said Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma, who arranged for the meeting to take place Oct. 7 at the Groveland offices. ‘I don’t think any thing of worthwhile consequence was discussed. They fully realize the federal government has regulations on them, what we say or do has little benefit.?
Joining DePalma and ET Rover representatives at the meeting were Sen. Dave Robertson, Rep. Joe Graves, Brandon Township Supervisor Kathy Thurman, Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones, Grand Blanc Supervisor Micki Hoffman, Mundy Township Supervisor Dave Guigear, and Holly Township Supervisor Dale Smith.
Kautman-Jones said Rover talked a lot about their proposed plan to install an 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. The 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. But at the most recent meeting, Rover representatives offered another possible reason for the decision to apply for a route that will take the pipeline north into Atlas? the more southern route would have meant taking out about 54 homes.
‘They abandoned the route, because it affected 53-54 homes that were going to have to be taken,? said DePalma, who notes that the new route still goes through Groveland Township, but affects a much smaller, less populated area, away from the Enbridge pipeline.. ‘Now where they have it, it’s on large farm fields, not nearly as heavily populated… Are we happy they’re coming here? No, but we understand the need and think this is a better route than the original. Some of the property owners would like the money for the easement.?
DePalma adds that contrary to initial reports, the natural gas is not mainly for Canadian export and ‘a good amount? of the natural gas transported by ET Rover will stay in Michigan. He also learned at the meeting that there are no high pressure pump stations planned for Michigan. The pipeline itself will be exposed every 20 to 50 miles, with valves for shutting off sections of pipe in case of emergency.
Rover representatives also explained that the reason the pipeline can’t follow a suggested route along the I-69 corridor is because close proximity to highways is discouraged for safety reasons.
Kautman-Jones said ET Rover representatives continue to maintain that surveyors are allowed on residents? properties and they claim they have 65 percent of residents accepting this.
‘You have to write and deny them access,? Kautman-Jones said. ‘We have a form on our counter (at the Atlas Township offices) that residents can submit if they don’t want surveyors. If Rover wants access, they can go to court and get an order. It’s a very involved process and the best thing I can tell people is to get their own legal counsel. They need to inform themselves.?
ET Rover’s pipeline is in the pre-filing stage with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which will ultimately decide whether to approve the pipeline. Residents can file comments and concerns by going to ferc.org and searching Docket PF14-14.