Gas Pipeline Proposed Near Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant

Hey, NY-NJ residents, did you know there’s a 30"-diameter high-pressure natural gas pipeline running under Jersey City, our waterways, and Manhattan? Despite multiple community rallies against it, Spectra Energy was given permission to build this pipeline which was completed in 2014. You can read about it in this HuffPost article from May 3, 2013: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/03/spectra-pipeline-fracking-new-york-city-activists_n_3209242.html

Of course, Spectra assures everyone that this pipeline is perfectly safe, but the company’s safety record is far from spotless, and their assurances came before the March 2014 explosion in Harlem where an 8" gas main leveled two buildings and killed 8 people (http://saneenergyproject.org/infrastructure-invasion/operational-projects/spectra-pipeline-nj-ny-expansion/). The potential devastation from the rupture of a pipe more than 3 times that diameter is terrifying. As the Sane Energy Project puts it:
“Should the pipeline or vault explode on the Manhattan side of the Hudson, the potential fire radius would encompass three historic districts, including: 10 irreplaceable Landmarked buildings; 10 schools or daycare centers; 8 playgrounds, including a large playground on the pier directly adjacent to the Sanitation Pier (the entry point of the pipeline); 13 churches or religious institutions; more than 28 art and cultural centers (including the Ground Zero Museum Workshop); the Hudson River Greenway, shoreline and West Side Highway; more than 38 restaurants; countless boutiques, hotels, businesses and residences.”

Unfortunately, Spectra Energy has received clearance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a pipeline further upstate near Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant! How can anybody think that putting miles of potentially explosive pipeline near a nuclear reactor (and near a seismic fault) is a good idea? Apparently, Spectra thinks it’s fine. Known as the Algonquin Incremental Marketing Project, or AIM for short, the project includes a 42" high-pressure line and a new compressor station built within the Indian Point site boundary. The company hopes to have it completed and in-service in November 2016. The Westchester County Board of Legislators had meetings in late May 2014 to discuss the pros and cons of having this pipeline built in their county, and expressed their worries about it being so close to Indian Point, and public comments were received until early 2015.
http://www.spectraenergy.com/Operations/New-Projects-and-Our-Process/New-Projects-in-US/Algonquin-Incremental-Market-AIM-Project/

However, just because FERC has given their approval and Spectra has apparently started work on AIM doesn’t mean the project MUST be completed. We have the ability to change this situation and keep this dangerous pipeline from being built. Get the word out about this and help create an outcry that will stop this madness! Notify governmental representatives of your concerns, and keep the pressure on the legislators to do the right thing.

For more information on how to take action, please visit: http://sape2016.org/