By BOB TUROSZ
NORTH READING – A planned open house for citizens to learn more about the controversial Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline and its route through town was postponed last week but town officials remain hopeful it will be rescheduled for a later date. In the meantime, North Reading continues to play an active role in the Northeast Municipal Gas Pipeline Coalition, an organization representing Massachusetts communities targeted by the pipeline.
The coalition represents 10 communities in this area of the state that have been in dialogue to identify and clarify information about the pipeline and communicate with Kinder Morgan on changes in the pipeline’s placement, according to Selectman Jeff Yull, who has represented the town on the coalition.
The role of the coalition is primarily informational and more data is necessary going forward as many changes continue to take place, he said. The coalition is trying to determine whether to: Flatly oppose the pipeline; support the plans of Kinder Morgan or Spectra Energy, a competing applicant, or not opposed the pipeline at all.
Yull said the coalition appears to be headed toward the reality that a pipeline may indeed happen. “Almost all the coalition members oppose the Kinder Morgan pipeline but there seems to be a consensus that a competing plan from Spectra may be better alternative,” because Spectra’s plan appears to be using the route of established pipelines already in place whereas Kinder Morgan is proposing a new and “invasive” route, Yull said.
At this point, the coalition has not taken a stand for or against the pipeline or Kinder Morgan or Spectra, Yull said. At some point it would be in North Reading’s best interests for the Selectmen to become an “intervener” in the process, which would allow them to represent the town’s property owners. “It’s about having a say” in the process, Yull added.
It’s not advantageous for the Selectmen to take a stand for or against the pipeline at this time until more information is available, Yull said. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, (FERC), won’t accept applications for intervener status at this point anyway, he said.
Selectman Stephen O’Leary said it would be difficult for the coalition or anyone else to make the case that there isn’t a need for more natural gas in this area. But if there’s a less intrusive alternative than Kinder Morgan, he would like to see them step forward quickly.
O’Leary said he’s certainly not in favor of the proposal as put forward by Kinder Morgan but it would help the town to be supportive of some other effort with less environmental impact “rather than be totally negative toward something that’s probably inevitably coming.”
Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto said the Nov. 12 open house in town was postponed because there wasn’t time under FERC regulations for public review of alternative route maps by Kinder Morgan. Gilleberto said he doesn’t know when the new open houses will be held but when that happens the community will be notified.
Beth Thomson, 77 Marblehead St., said she was concerned about the open house format, a series of several stations where individuals can present their concerns and hopefully get answers. She said this denies the community the opportunity to come together and listen to the same information at the same time. As a community member who’s not directly affected by the pipeline, Thomson said she felt excluded by this process. “My questions are more general,” she said.
Steve and Patty Woodbury, 7 Damon St., would be directly affected by the route the pipeline is proposed to take.
Patty Woodbury agreed with O’Leary that the pipeline can take other routes but Kinder Morgan, a multi-billion dollar company, is trying to find the cheapest, she said.
“I don’t see why neighborhoods and communities and places that mean a lot to people should suffer,” she said. The Woodburys have lived on Damon Street for 40 years and knew about the National Grid easement when they purchased but the pipeline is much more invasive, she said.
Woodbury said she understands the Selectmen need more information before staking out a position. “But I hope with all my heart you remember we are the people of North Reading and this is a multi billion dollar company that’s just trying to save money.”
Chairman Robert Mauceri explained the board’s position requires them to get all the facts. This is so important they assigned one of their members, Yull, to track this, he said.
“They (Kinder Morgan) are trying to lay out a path that’s least costly. If it has to be, we’re fighting for a path that’s least intrusive,” said Mauceri.
“Based on the way they’ve handled themselves from Day One, Kinder Morgan hasn’t endeared themselves to anyone in town,” said board member Joe Foti. “Even in the public hearing they had here several months ago, they weren’t very cooperative,” he said.
