Spectra Energy Talks About Pipeline Project at Selectmen’s Meeting

Representatives from Spectra Energy made a presentation about the Access Northeast Project at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on September 26 to a standing-room only audience. Spectra was invited to the meeting to provide further information on the project. A long list of questions was submitted ahead of time to the company but they did not take the questions one-at-a-time. Instead, they talked about details of the project, sometimes referring to the questions, for more than an hour. After the initial presentation and questions by town officials, residents were given the opportunity to ask direct questions of the Spectra representatives.

The project, planned by Spectra Energy, Eversource Energy and National Grid, involves upgrading and expanding part of its existing pipeline through New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The project includes construction of a compressor station in Rehoboth, off Finnegan’s Way, on the Rehoboth-Attleboro line. Compressor stations pressurize the gas and help it move along the pipeline.

Many citizens are concerned about the safety of the compressor station, especially the possibility of accidents and environmental and health hazards from allegedly dangerous emissions. A group called “Citizens Against the Rehoboth Compressor Station” has formed to oppose its construction. Jon Bonsall, of Algonquin Gas Transmission, a subsidiary of Spectra, gave the initial overview of the project. Bonsall said that there will be a growing demand for natural gas in the area because Brayton Point is retiring and Pilgrim will be retired in 2019. And the use of natural gas is increasing. “The region has become more reliant on natural gas for electric generation over the last 15 years,” Bonsall said.

He said many people asked about the benefit of the project. He said it accomplishes three things: it ensures energy availability and reliability, lowers electric costs for all electric customers and reduces carbon emissions. Bonsall confirmed that the location is off Finnegan’s Way, which is off Tremont Street. The company currently owns 23 acres and is looking to purchase 120+ additional acres there. The station would be built on 10 acres, which will be far enough away from the street that it won’t be seen, according to Bonsall. He said the closest property owner residence is 1600 feet away. 

Questions came up about whether the company will develop the land further or sell it and Bonsall said there are no plans for that.  “There are no plans at this time that would add additional facilities in Rehoboth,” he said. Bonsall said the company did look at 4 or 5 alternate sites for the compressor station, but Rehoboth was preferred because it is at the intersection of two major existing pipes.

They were also questioned about the potential for noise. Terry Doyle, an Environmental Manager, said they are required to meet all local, state and federal noise regulations. Bonsall said some people questioned whether the gas would be used for export. “The gas is coming into the region, to be used in the region, essentially for electric generation,” he said. On the question of potential leaks, one of the other representatives said that when you hear about leaks, it is on the local distribution system, not their interstate pipeline. “We do not have leaks on our system,” he said.

Selectman Skip Vadnais asked whether there are state or local permits that the company would need. The company does not need any local permits except some paperwork from the conservation commission and health department. Approval is needed from the Army Corps., U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Environmental Protection Agency among others. There was a long list of state and federal environmental approvals that the company will have to get.

Selectman Sue Pimental asked who oversees the project and she was told it is the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. The project is also exempt from a local building inspection. The company has an independent inspection staff on site. Selectmen were concerned about this. “They look at reports compiled by an independent consulting company that is hired by you?” asked Selectmen Gerry Schwall. “That is a concern.” Schwall said. “Until the Feds give their permission to place a facility into service, we cannot place a facility into service,” Bonsall said.

Their only water consumption will be domestic water supply for the restrooms. The facility uses air for cooling, not water. Joe Nunes of the Water Commission questioned where the facility would be built relative to the groundwater protection district and they said they would look into that question. They explained that water will be brought in to test the new pipes and the water will be discharged on site via a federal EPA permit into a hay bale structure they will build.

One woman who lives near the site was concerned because her son has asthma. She brought up a study from a researcher from Madison, WI, David Van Sickle, who reportedly found a link between the use of asthma inhalers and compressor stations in Louisville.  “Those VOC’s you’re putting up, that’s right next to my house. You can say you are checking all the boxes but you don’t live next to the compressor station,” she said. “We will comply with all the regulations that the state of Massachusetts has identified and the EPA and those are health-risk-based standards that we have to meet,” one of the representatives said. But they promised to look into the Louisville research.

The meeting lasted more than 3 ½ hours. Selectmen and residents brought up other questions, including how frequently the gas is vented; what, if any, carcinogenic materials and the amount of these and other chemicals present in the emissions, and what role the Rehoboth Fire Department would play if there is a fire or explosion at the facility and what happens in such a situation.

There are a number of issues and questions that the town will be waiting for further information and answers on.
The meeting was recorded by Rehoboth Community Access TV and is available to watch on the website rehobothtv.org.