Public hearing held on gas pipeline

CHIPLEY - Washington County citizens voiced their concerns about the proposed pipeline to Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) representatives at a meeting Wednesday evening. The meeting was a recessed meeting of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners from Thursday.

As it stands, Washington County is entering Phase Eight (public meetings) in constructing a 500-mile, 36-inch natural gas pipeline stretching from Alabama to central and south Florida.

Soem landowners are concerned about construction of the pipeline in relation to their land, quality of life and if it is in the resident’s best interest to cooperate, as well as other issues like what determined the route and the crossing of lines.

“Factors involved with planning the route included having the least amount of impact to the environment and surrounding landowners,” said Rick Craig, vice president of Florida Gas Transmissions. “As for pipe cross-over, that is determined by what would be in the way of the pipe, such as wells and septic tanks. We would gladly cross them over as many times as necessary to lessen the impact on landowners.”

Craig said that as it stands, the pipeline crosses over 53 times in the schematics, once every 10 miles.

Another issue was how the company planned to acquire the strips of land necessary for the installation of the pipeline. Landowners were told that they would be offered “fair-market value” for their land.

“What would be considered ‘fair-market value’ to you may be different to me, I may not want to sell,” said Nan Thompson, a property owner whose land would be impacted by the pipeline. “What are you going to do then, take it any way?”

Paulette Trepl, right of way director with FGT provided the answer. “What you’re talking about is eminent domain and personally, I hope it doesn’t come to that,” she said.

Craig explained that when the company bought the land, they didn’t keep the deed, therefore not keeping the land at all and still allowed for some use of the land.

“These uses exclude building anything heavy on it and avoiding putting anything underground,” said Thompson. “So all it’s good for is grazing cows.”

Another issue was that citizens were concerned with unknown people claiming to be working for the gas company coming onto their property without authorization.

“I don’t give a rat’s rear end if they say they’re from the gas company,” said Trepl. “If you see someone on your property unauthorized, call the sheriff and have them arrested.”

The next step involved for the FGT’s project is to file with the Florida Energy Regulatory Commission all of the information gathered to date to become certified to continue land surveys and studies, which at the conclusion will result in another public meeting.

If approved and certified again in fall of 2009, they will commence construction in January 2010 with a target in-service date for Spring 2011.

For more information on the pipeline in your area, go to www.panhandleenergy.com and click on Phase VIII.

Anyone with questions, comments or complaints about the pipeline project, should contact their local Land Right-of-Way Agent at www.ferc.gov.