Independence, Springfield and Rose township officials have successfully negotiated concessions with Consumers Energy concerning a proposed West Oakland Pipeline.
After an Oct. 14 closed session with their attorney, the Springfield Township Board approved a ‘joint report? with Consumers Energy, effectively removing the township government from its status as an ‘intervenor? in negotiations between the utility and the Michigan Public Service Commission.
‘They agreed to meet almost every recommendation along the route to address the environmental concerns,? said Supervisor Collin Walls.
The plan calls for 24.4 miles of a 36-inch natural gas pipeline to be built through Rose, Springfield, Independence and Orion townships. The proposal had garnered protests from those critical of a route which includes natural features such as the Great Huron Swamp in Springfield Township and Buckhorn Lake in Rose Township.
Debra Dodd, a spokesperson for Consumers Energy, said negotiations were productive.
‘We’re obviously very pleased we were able to reach a resolution with the townships,? Dodd said. ‘We’re feeling optimistic? concerning a timetable which calls for the MPSC to rule on the proposal by the end of the year.
The agreement covers nine specific points of concern. Consumers Energy agreed to reduce the amount of clear cutting in some areas where as much as 100 feet of right-of-way were planned. In some areas, conventional trenching will be replaced by underground boring or hydraulic directed drilling.
In addition, funds will be placed in escrow to pay for a local environmental consultant to monitor construction if and when it begins. Walls said the company has even agreed to ‘correct a problem they created 50 years ago? by restoring a stream blocked during construction of an existing gas pipeline in the same area.
There is one major disappointment, Walls said.
‘They didn’t agree to put the pipeline someplace else,? he said.
The agreement is an encouraging step for Consumers Energy, but not the last. Several individual property owners filed protests separate from the township government. Walls said the township agreement does not mean individual property owners should not have their concerns addressed.
‘We strongly suggested that [Consumers Energy] meet with the township residents who are stilliintervenors,? Walls said.
Dodd said those conversations are taking place.
‘We’re continuing to work with all the parties,? she said, with the company hoping to have everyone sign off on the plan by Nov. 15.
Concerns voiced by Independence Township were not from specific environmental concerns, but from lack of specific plans by which to evaluate whether they had concerns.
Attempts to reach Independence Township Supervisor Dale Stuart for comment were unsuccessful.