It doesn't take much to derail local attention. Nobody seemed concerned when approval was received several years ago to dig up the Service Road and plant a 20" gas line in the middle of it. Nobody seemed concerned when the new gas line crossed under Route 6 and meandered to a terminal point on Route 130. Nobody even seemed very concerned when the gas company ran some very loud and colorful tests last summer that made the intersection of Routes 6 and 130 look like the Entrance to Hell -- or at least Northern New Jersey.
But, when the Gas Company agreed to cooperate with a local government request and file plans and paperwork to move the gas line off the roadway and into the wooded buffer zone between Route 6 & The Service Road -- that's when some locals became concerned that the proposed gas line relocation would "improve their view" of Route 6.
Unfortunately, the period to complain about aesthetics had passed -- because (not surprisingly) nobody had been paying attention.
So the new battle cry became the Fear of Incineration!
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reports there were a total of 42 fatalities from gas transmission pipelines between 1993 and 2012.(See their report here).
But, the U.S. Census reports that almost 34,000 people were killed in traffic accidents IN 2009 ALONE. (see their report here).
Why aren't they calling for the elimination of motor vehicles or the closing of Route 6 ?
We have seen Selectmen's meetings and, most recently, a School Committee meeting unabashedly hijacked by a small group of hysterical residents convinced that their impending incineration is inevitable, It was made even worse at a recent School Committee meeting when residents assured Committee members that they could be responsible for entire school bus loads of little children being incinerated on contact and that hundreds of other kids could be burned alive as they walked to school or waited for their bus.
Their solution? Put the line near somebody else's house!
27 comments:
Classic NIMBY !
I think it bears noting that the School Committee was dragged into this fight by Mrs. Crossman who doesn't hesitate to utilize her Committee seat for her personal benefit --- fighting to protect her employment at The Community School, fighting to preserve her ability to swim at the Community Pool, or keeping the gas line out of her neighborhood.
For the record and in the interest of full and fair disclosure – I am an abutter to this project.
It’s for me interesting to note that there is, beneath the Service Road today, high pressure gas lines. For folks inclined to look, they’re obviously and prominently marked with bright yellow above ground gas hazard indicators every few dozen yards along the length of the Service Road. The gas line hazard indicators and the gas lines themselves have been there for quite some time – years in fact.
I am hopeful that the Town and the utility will take some ownership of this project and replace the buffer vegetation that will be removed when the new additional gas line is placed. I’d prefer not to see or hear any more of the mid cape than need be. This doesn’t seem like an extreme position and it certainly won’t cost the utility that much.
I am also hopeful that the Town and the utility will agree to extend, at no cost to local residents, the water main hydrants down all of the Service Road. I think asking for fire hydrants to be located near an active high pressure gas line situated in a residential neighborhood isn’t a crazy, over-the-top expectation. And, since the digging equipment and man power will be there anyway laying pipe – the timing seems pretty good too.
Other than those two pretty modest conditions, I can’t really think of anything else to ask for from the town or project sponsors; unless of course, the utility would consider moving my home from its present location off the Service Road to something waterfront - in Osterville perhaps?
Bob that was the same comment I made to Mr. Crossman, when I asked him where do you think it should go. No answer.
I asked him why did some of his group think it would be a better thing that they use the present High tension right of way to put this gas line?
I mentioned that it sounds like it is fine where ever it goes, except not in my back yard. I also mentioned that those of us that live close to the present lines are being subjected to Electro magnetic Fields that have known cancer causing agents in small children. Also should some one decide to sabotage the main lines they would get a two for one deal.
Now that would be a real problem for every one.
In some cases this group makes mention that they would be trapped in case of a blow up and Once again stated that a road could be placed to rt 130 that would serve as an emergancy exit , in the event of such a happening[ No comment]
My question is what ever happened to the 1000 folks who signed this petition[Only 12 showed up at the recent meeting]The rest must be waiting for the next public hearing at the high school ???
Bobby -
You are right most of the time, but this time you could not be more wrong. I have been fighting this thing for more than half a decade. First with the town, then with the siting board, and then with the CCC. I will send you copies of my early intervention papers if you like. Your comments undermine my years of effort on this.
I knew right where to find you on this issue as soon as I saw Crossman was against it. If you could ignore your petty infatuation with her for just a moment and study the impact on the environment, town, abutters,and most importantly local cape businesses (which no one is talking about) maybe you would see this thing as more than just a "distraction".
Hope you are enjoying your summer!
You forgot crazy Ex committee member who wants to get rid of the radio antenna because kids might get cancer. All the real problems around here and they worry about a pipe an antenna. Still messed up priorities.
Ah yes – the very real and very present gas line danger that the utility, the state, the town, the fire marshal, the builders, construction personnel, engineers, architects, planners and on, and on, couldn’t see and appreciate; but, a few wacked out NIMBYs - they’ve discovered the alarming dangers that have escaped everyone else’s perception and detection. If it’s such a serious safety threat why advocate simply moving it? Wouldn’t you advocate against its installation absolutely anywhere? What nonsense!
Bob safety is paramount when ever a project of this magnitude takes place. Other then confronting the issue of placement, the subject matter should be around what are these safety devises and how do they get reconsiled in this project..
What is the minimum depth that the line will be placed below the ground[ Do they have a known safety zone depth, where in case of an leak that every one can have some comfort that it will remain free from damage.
What will be the fire Zone protection around this pipe line below ground>
How many feet between sections will shutoffs be placed to once again minimize any further problems should a line rupture and explode? What is the recogonized standard for such applications?
What is the expected life of the steel used in the pipe and can a second pipe be installed around the main line that would have the ability to sense and detect leaks
from the main line ? Especially where all of the welded sections will be?
For me does this pipe line meet the industry standards and are they good enough for the impending project?
Many such questions would make more sense to me then attempting to say move it to the present power lines that keep the whole of Cape Cod Supplied by electric power.
Andrew,
Nice to hear from you and thank you for signing your post.
You were doing well until you got to the line about "petty infatuation". My only "infatuation" is with people pursuing their own agendas, on my dime, and claiming it is "for the children".
I have no doubt you have been pursuing this issue for years -- my point is that this became loudly public only recently and quickly shifted from "taking too many trees" to "its going to blow and we're all going to die".
I think these folks probably undermined your scientific-economic approach to the issue.
I thought last week's School Committee meeting was ridiculous -- nobody talked about environmental or business impacts -- they talked about incinerating busloads of kids. They were far more interested in generating hysteria than spreading knowledge & research.
I noted they didn't request a ban on pipelines -- just a relocation.
Would it really be safer to run the line down very busy Rte 130 and along the power lines behind the Canterbury & Lakewood Hills neighborhoods -- where the houses are generally smaller and closer together than the Service Road?
My map shows the Oakridge School field as being 1,001 feet from the powerline right-of-way. So much for protecting kids.
Would that improve safety, business, or the environment?
And how about a quick survey of how many of those same folks have gas lines coming into their houses? Unless they have a well or tank in the back yard -- that gas is travelling along a pipeline near somebody's yard.
I have no problem agreeing to disagree -- I just think its silly to attempt to use the kids as a pawn on this issue. That's what contract negotiations are for !
I hope you have a good summer also!
Bob -
Sorry about the infatuation comment, but I can't believe that you would be so critical if someone else was leading the charge. Be honest with me!
Anyway, the reason that safety is the big issue now (it was not in the past on this project) is two-fold. One, because they are increasing the pressure rating beyond what it was originally deigned for and two, because it is the only way to stop or slow the project at this point. Public works projects do not stop because of potential economic or environmental consequences. It is the only argument left to make. However, I do think that the design should be reviewed once again to ensure that there are adequate safety precautions in place, especially since I am in the 100% mortality zone.
When I met with the Town Planner 7 years ago, she told me not worry about this because it was not going to happen for years and still needed town and CCC approval. I didn't realize that the town approval was at the hands of the DPW issuing a permit. And I still don't understand what the purpose of the CCC is? All saw them do I regurgitate what the siting board had presented.
As for all the NIMBY comments...obviously folks are more passionate about issues closer their homes or hearts. Activism starts on a local level. Folks give more to charities for causes which have impacted them personally. It is only right to fight more for something that affects you personally. I don't see this as a negative.
At this point, we should probably just hope that safety issues are resolved, to get some trees replanted, have some more fire hydrants installed, gain a little tax revenue, and possibly even have NG fund a memorial bike path that should appropriately named in honor of our Town Manager.
I think I can flip you on this issue Bob! I can already sense your empathy.
I'm surprised nobody commented on the Empty-Prize's usual crappy journalism -- last week's headline was "Sandwich School Board Wants Proposed High-Pressure Natural Gas Pipeline Moved".
Untrue -- the Committee only sent a member to the hearing -- the Committee has taken no position on the issue.
Could you see the Committee saying the gasline should run through Canterbury -- not Service Road? I'd love to see Kangas try to explain that!
This entire isssue has been "blown" out of proportion.
One local paper stated that this past meeting with the NG had 12 in total from the public present. Then yesterdays paper staed they had 60 at the meeting.
What I would like to know who is using a rubber band ruler?
I think any hope of a scientific approach went out the window when the speaker got hysterical about people "running through the woods with their clothes on fire" --- somebody needs to switch to decaf! (or take a Xanax !)
Can the fireboat reach Service Road? What if we put it on the back of one of those nifty snow plows parked in the DPW garage?
REPOST...What the does our BOS or SC, or for that matter any board, know about the installation of natural gas pipelines? The answer is nothing. This project has been in the works for 6+ years and the utility company has followed all proper procedures required by law, yes law. The law is not always fair and sometimes requires the citizenry to pay attention. As they say, ignorance is no excuse. Now this issue is getting attention because a few reactionary residents have swarmed the BOS meetings with fervor of more appropriate with a run on a Cyprus bank then an upgrade of a utility. Successfully paralyzing the BOS with illusions of giant spontaneous explosions, tantamount to Hiroshima or even the comet that killed the dinosaurs.
Of course, some of our Selectmen find this the perfect excuse to grandstand and fall on the proverbial sword on an issue, for all intents and purposes, means nothing and they frankly have no control over. Watching the Selectmen drool and dribble trying to pacify the masses of over reactionary busy bodies is sure entertaining but begs the question where is the leadership? Reality needs to set in soon here people. Guess what? There are miles of gas lines under our homes, our offices, and god forbid maybe even where our children go to school! We live with the reality that everyday accidents could happen and yes people get hurt. We cannot sanitize every facet of our lives in an attempt to obtain complete safety and security. To do so will leave us jaded and paranoid. The mob that infiltrated the selectmen’s meetings recently are same people that will protest the trees being cut back on the power lines but be the first in line to sue and criticize the power company when the power goes out in a storm.
Yes, I am being tongue and cheek but honestly, are we really wasting our time with this? Let’s talk about our real problems and stop diverting our leader’s attention to matters of petty NIMBY’isum.
The Truth Maker would say to poster 516 that you have hit the nail on the head. Also you you need to pay attention to which selectmen are pandering to this group for next years votes.
The project has been a done deal, except in a few of the changes that we the town requested and what happened to those same selectmen as they sat hearing about those changes. They did not seem to have any problems with it, until the Not In My Backyard Group made enough noise to get there attention. Talk about grandstanding to get a few votes lined up, especially when we have so many problems with economic development that seem to get swept under the rug around here of late?
The town still has some real live issues like beach errosion, economic development,repairing our roads and byways, getting a new building together for the fire and police, reenforcing the process of the South Sandwich development area, increasing our tax base, repairing the Towns Pool. Above all attempting to work on a more collabritative effort between the town side of government and the schools side of managament.
As long, as we the town allow some of these diversions from the real problems we face as a town to be railroaded into other areas, we never will see any progress in any of the long and short range goals set for our town and that would be a shame for the next genration of citizens.
TM655 -
You are blaming the issues in this town on these folks that are advocates for a cause they care passionately about? If everyone cared as much as this group, we'd be much better off. The pool is not still broken because people are concerned about a high pressure gas line. This "diversion" is not taking away valuable time from beach repair work. I applaud their willingness to stand-up, unveiled, about something that they believe is detrimental to our community. You may disagree with their stance on the issue, but their effort is commendable and their passion is admirable.
Mr. Collentro’s last post appears to suggest that passion, hard work and energy invested in any cause is admirable. I am not 100% sure I agree. Isn’t this a bit like giving a student an A for effort even when the work produced was substandard?
For years the church passionately and energetically argued that the world was flat. Governor Wallace passionately and energetically argued that segregation was right. Can we agree that their time, energy, passion and hard work would have been put to better use elsewhere? Was their passion, hard work and energy invested in the cause admirable?
Isn’t the anti-gas line crowd a bit like Wallace and the church? Aren’t they in fact fighting fact and truths with energy, passion and hard work? Admirable? I think not. A waste of time and resources? I think so.
Andrew if this group was more honest as to the reasons they now after 6 years find it needed to fight for I would be more enclined to agree with you. That however is not and has not been the case.
First it was a simple lets take a hard look at the process they failed to engage into back in 2006. The group stated that they were not informed as to any meeting, well I obtained the list of those citizens that would be directly affected, under the present guidlines that the commonwealth has made a determination would adversaly be affected. Now to say that not every ones name was not on the list, goes to the regulation of who in fact are considered abuttors, under those guidlines. Each and every abuttor did in fact get notified and only one showed up to dispute the new line.
The next cry was about safety and why could not this line go elsewhere , like under the electrical high tension lines?
Mean while they place new meaning to the words of using the children as an example of what will happen if this line is placed in the location they do not want it to be.
If safety is in deed the main concern for this group why did they not get on the train early in the ball game when all of the decision process was being made? Why did they get on the train after it left the station 6 years ago.
Where are the questions that actually address the safe engineering of this pipe line?
For example , what is the minumum depth from the top that this line will be placed, would placing it deeper provide further assurance to preventing a catastrophic should the line actually explode?
How about the gauge of the steel , would increasing the wall of the pipe reflect a safer avenue to prevent a rupture and explosion?
Now for further edification I asked could the shut offs be placed closer together to localize the damage should one occur. Under the original agreement the shutoff would be placed every four miles, now they will be placed every two miles, further increasing the integrity in localizing any damage and at the same time improve the safety margins in case of an explosion .
Further in regards to safety the main shut of building will be manned 24 7 and any loss of pressure would institute an automatic closure of the supply from that point to determine the cause.
This whole procces has wasted valuable time away from real problems we face as a town and if they state that it is not about placing this line elswhere, why is it every time this group gets interviewed a statement is made in the paper that they think it should be under the high tension lines. Not in my backyard, but ok in my neighbors. We have to deal with electro magnetic cancer causing fields 247 plus ever two years a complete cut back of all growth, where have to see bike ryders, cars, truck going through our backyards. Last year I even had trees I had been nuturing cut inside my marked boundry lines.
You see I am honest and will tell you that I along with my fellow citizens that live along this pathway do not want any more disturbances to our area, where we have more people living then along the present projected path way you will need to deal with.
Many years ago the pathway was determend as to the safest route and unfortunitly the service road was picked, by the state and by the town along with countless other agencies. The train is on track to go that way, lets hope that the bedding will be strong enough to provide a safe route, Not in my backyard however.
Anon 2:30 -
Are you implying that the world isn't flat?
Worse. I think he called the Pipeline People racists!
Correction on the placement of the shut offs on the gas line . They will placed at every ONe Mile of pipe. One needs to address if those shut off are manually controlled or electrically turned off.
I didn’t suggest that the world was flat; and, I certainly didn’t say that anyone was a racist!
What I either implied or said was pretty clear:
To most folks in town the anti-pipeline crowd (all 12 of them) comes across as whacked out NIMBYs.
Energetic? Yes. Passionate? Yes. Hard working? Yes.
Selfish? Yes. Self-interested? Yes
Admirable? NO. Objective? NO. Realistic? NO.
8:07......Well said. Bravo!
TM602 -
The route was not picked because it was the safest, it was picked because it was the cheapest. They didn't even consider the safest route which I thought was an off-shore unloading platform to feed the outer cape. I think I remember laughter when I suggested that to the Colonial Gas folks at the time.
Safe? 42 people have died in the past 20 years. Get real ... Do you have gas in your house? You want a n offshore fueling platform?
Most gas comes to new england by pipe now .... Not boats.
Im more afraid of dieing in east sandwich because the nearest fire station is closed and the men from the oher one are playing mchales navy with their new toy.
I agree this is a distraction from bigger issues. But mAybe that is the idea?
If they do build a bike path along the new pipeline, they should call it "Bud's Big Boom Bikeway".
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