Deerfield Board of Health Votes to Ban Gas Pipeline from Town
By
Harry Keramidas of Ashfield also opposes the gas pipeline. (Greg Saulmon / The Republican)
DEERFIELD - Taking the strongest stand yet against the Tennessee Gas Pipeline,
the Deerfield Board of Health voted unanimously Wednesday to ban the proposed
project from town.
passed resolutions opposing the pipeline, which would be built and owned by Kinder
Morgan Inc. of Texas and carry natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico into New England.
Morgan Inc. of Texas and carry natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico into New England.
Locally, it would extend from New York through Berkshire, Franklin and Worcester
counties.
The Deerfield Board of Health believes it has the final word on the matter, at least
regarding Deerfield. Kinder Morgan, however, maintains that it can only be regulated
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Conway attorney Cristobal Bonifaz,
who is representing Deerfield pro bono, gave a different interpretation of the
1938 Federal Gas Act Wednesday, saying it does not preempt local health boards from acting.
"It's a battle of jurisdiction," said Board of Health Chairwoman Carolyn Shores Ness.
"We feel the Board of Health has absolute jurisdiction."
Ness said Deerfield is particularly concerned about a compressor station that Kinder Morgan wants to locate in town on 50-70 acres of land.
"It would be one of the largest compressor stations in the U.S.," she said. "Do I feel like
we did the right thing? Yes."
we did the right thing? Yes."
Both Ness and Becky Clark, a resident who opposes the gas line, said Kinder Morgan
is not free with information. "They have not spoken to us," Ness said.
is not free with information. "They have not spoken to us," Ness said.
Clark said the company agreed to reroute the pipeline around her peach orchard at Clarkdale Fruit Farm but has been otherwise uncommunicative. "They have never
come to anything in Deerfield," she said.
come to anything in Deerfield," she said.
Noted that it is hard to fight a corporate giant in court, Ness is grateful for Bonifaz'
work on Deerfield's behalf. "I feel very comfortable we'll be able to win," she said.
work on Deerfield's behalf. "I feel very comfortable we'll be able to win," she said.
There were 40-5- people at Wednesday's Board of Health meeting, according to Clark. Ness said many in town are against the pipeline. "People are very happy we're doing
this," she said.
this," she said.
Melissa Ruiz, a spokeswoman for Kinder Morgan, reasserted her company's position
that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the ultimate authority to decide
the route of the pipeline. She referred to a letter the company sent to the Conway Board
of Health last month rejecting the notion that such local boards have ultimate say.
that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the ultimate authority to decide
the route of the pipeline. She referred to a letter the company sent to the Conway Board
of Health last month rejecting the notion that such local boards have ultimate say.
ORIGINAL SOURCE:
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/10/deerfield_board_of_health_vote.html