ET Rover has submitted a new proposed natural gas pipeline route to the relief of some Brandon Township residents, but which causes angst among neighbors to the north, including residents of Atlas and Hadley townships.
And still, nothing is set in stone.
‘Until Rover comes with an application, the route is subject to negotiation,? cautioned Craig Cano, a spokesperson for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which retains final power over approval of the project. ‘The route can change, whether we see that until the application comes, I don’t know… They are in the pre-filing stage. I don’t know what their plans are.?
Cano confirmed that the most recent update from ET Rover is a new map filed, showing the route moving north, out of Brandon Township.
Residents of both Atlas and Hadley townships have reported ET Rover surveyors on their properties in recent weeks, although neither Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones, nor Hadley Township Supervisor Ernest Monroe have been contacted by Rover.
On Sept. 9, the Hadley Township Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing the proposed Rover pipeline, which would transport 3.25 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas through more than 600 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline from shale production areas in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
The proposed route, which leads into Canada, originally was slated to enter Groveland and Brandon townships along a route that closely parallels the existing Enbridge Line 6B petroleum pipelines, both the one that is being deactivated, as well as its replacement, the construction of which is being completed now.
However, after Rover announced that plan with correspondence and visits to township residents in June, protests erupted. Amidst the backlash, both the Groveland and Brandon township boards passed resolutions opposing the pipeline route, citing safety and environmental concerns, as well as burdens on property owners who have already sacrificed land to the Enbridge pipelines.
With the possible change in the pipeline route, more local townships are following suit with opposition.
The resolution the Hadley Township Board passed is similar to the ones passed by Brandon and Groveland, and Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones said she plans to present a similar resolution opposing the pipeline during the next Atlas Board meeting, set for 7 p.m. this Monday, Sept. 15, at the township offices.
Kautman-Jones has been contacted by about 25 residents regarding the pipeline, all in opposition, and after repeated attempts to get information from ET Rover regarding the project, she was only contacted by the company after putting in a call to Congressman Dan Kildee.
‘I’m really frustrated because if this is how they treat elected officials, how are they treating property owners?? she asked. ‘They aren’t even telling us what they are proposing to do. I feel (Rover) not giving information is a way to get to the filing process with as little opposition as possible. It takes people awhile to think about things and if your window of time keeps getting smaller and smaller, your response time is, too.?
Monroe agrees. The Hadley supervisor said he began receiving calls from concerned residents at the end of August. Rover never contacted the township, nor Lapeer County officials, he said, they just started showing up and surveying property.
‘We had 150 to 200 people at our board meeting last night and we do not want this thing,? said Monroe on Wednesday. ‘It’s not just wrecking the environment, but there are safety concerns and blast zones. A lot of people are putting in comments to FERC and we will file our resolution and see what happens.?
Informational meetings on the pipeline by ET Rover are planned for residents of Genesee and Lapeer counties this week.
Atlas Township residents are encouraged to attend a meeting from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Sept. 16, at Spring Meadows Country Club, 1129 Ripley Road, Linden, MI 48451. Hadley Township residents can attend a Rover informational meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Sept. 17 at the Metamora Lions Club, 3790 N. Oak St., Metamora, MI 48455.
Comments regarding the pipeline can be filed at ferc.org. Search by docket number PF14-14.