Natural gas pipeline gets environmental approval

49-mile route would travel through Tumwater and wildlife refuge

JOHN DODGE THE OLYMPIAN

THURSTON COUNTY -- A federal energy agency ruled this week that a 49-mile natural gas pipeline from Rainier to Satsop could be built without significant environmental harm.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff decision marked a major victory for the Northwest Pipeline Corp., sponsor of the $75 million project.

At the same time, it was a blow to residents of Cougar Ridge, a Delphi Valley subdivision through which the 20-inch, high-pressure pipe would be routed.

If built, the pipeline would feed gas to at least one, and perhaps two, natural gas-fired power plants at the old Satsop nuclear power plant site in Grays Harbor County.

To get there, the pipe would cross rivers, streams and wetlands 37 times, reach into the Black River National Wildlife Refuge and the McLane Creek Nature Trail, disturb nearly 500 acres of vegetation during construction and travel through the potential habitat of six threatened or endangered species.

"The proposed route would cross a number of environmentally sensitive areas, including rivers and creeks that contain habitat for federally protected fish and/or extensive wetland complexes of high value," according to the federal agency's environmental review.

Existing holes

Northwest Pipeline will limit the project's impact by running the pipeline through holes drilled beneath McLane Creek and two tributaries, Dempsey Creek, and the Black, Deschutes and Chehalis rivers, said Bev Chipman, spokeswoman for Northwest's parent company, Williams Gas Pipeline of Salt Lake City.

About 25 miles of the pipeline route would be in existing right-of-way for a natural gas pipeline installed in 1957. That right-of-way runs through Cougar Ridge.

"I'm more worried about the old pipeline than the new one," Cougar Ridge resident Patrick Mackin said.

Mackin said he fears that a pipeline rupture and explosion of the old line would engulf the new line as well.

"They're just too close together," he said.

FERC rejected a call by residents west of Black Lake to require the company to run the pipeline along the east side of the lake. That alternative crosses 92 properties, instead of 69, and would parallel and cross a major Bonneville Power Administration transmission line.

Bonneville officials strongly opposed that route, voicing concerns that an earthquake and potential pipeline explosion in that area could knock out a big chunk of the region's power grid.

What's ahead

While the FERC environmental approval is critical, the pipeline company needs several federal, state and local permits before it can start construction, Chipman said.

The company is on schedule with all the reviews and permits to start construction in June and complete construction in November, Chipman said.

Next on tap for the project are public hearings, which Thurston County will conduct as soon as early April, she said.

John Dodge covers the environment and energy for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5444 or by e-mail at jdodge@olympia. gannett.com.

How to comment

The public has until April 3 to comment on the environmental review of the Grays Harbor pipeline project. Comments should be directed to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. N.E., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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