WILMINGTON, MA – State Rep. Jim Miceli has joined the Town of Wilmington in formally opposing the proposed Tennessee Gas Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline.
Miceli wrote the following in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this week:
I wish to officially declare my intent to intervene in relation to Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s Northeast Energy Direct proposal, FERC docket number PF14-22-000. The pipeline threatens to not only endanger land in the towns of Wilmington and Tewksbury, but also violate Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution and serve as a burden to residents across the state. I ask that you add my name to the list of interveners so that I may remain well-informed on the status of the project and submit comments when I believe it to be necessary. Thank you.
The Wilmington Board of Selectmen officially opposed the pipeline project and voted to become an “intervener” at their October 13 meeting.
Town Manager Jeff Hull expressed numerous concerns at that time, including the pipeline’s proximity to an active blasting quarry (Benevento’s), the pipeline running within the town’s Zone 2 water protection area; and the pipeline having no direct benefit to the residents of Wilmington.
“This pipeline will come through Wilmington, into North Reading, and eventually wind up in Peabody, where the gas will be distributed to National Grid and other customers that Kinder Morgan is able to sign up,” explained Hull. “The situation is not that Wilmington residents or businesses will be able to connect this line. Kinder Morgan has suggested that they believe, over time, with the increase supply of gas, it will have an effect on the rates that subscribers to gas pay. That, to this point, is speculative.”
“I do not believe it’s in the town’s best interest to support this project,” summed up Hull. And by becoming an “intervener” with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), the town now has certain legal rights, including appeal rights, it otherwise would not have, according to Hull.
“There is far too much risk to our water aquifers as well as no evidence from Kinder Morgan that they have similarly scoped projects in blasting areas,” concurred Selectman Chair Mike Champoux. “I’m not feeling warm and fuzzy that they have the confidence to do this. Their verbal assurances aren’t sufficient. Given those, and a few more dozen reasons, I’ve risen to the point of not supporting the project at all.”
“We have one shot at this to stand tall and object to this,” said Selectwoman Judy O’Connell. “Residents are relying on us. In all my years of public service, these are the times where you really have to rise to the occasion and support the residents that elected you into this position. Overall, the overwhelming majority that I’m hearing from is opposed to this project. I’m pleased with the Town Manager and his team for the fact that we’re considering to be an intervener as well. It’s going to be labor intensive and a lot of work associated with it, but I think we owe it to ourselves as a community to do everything we can to avail ourselves to all the opportunities we can to oppose the project.”
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