Residents say no to West Roxbury pipeline

By Eric Smalley

On the eve of a primary election, more than 100 people turned out for a public meeting at the Dedham Holiday Inn last night held by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hear comments about a natural gas pipeline slated to run from Westwood through Dedham into the heart of West Roxbury. The proposed route places the pipelines adjacent to an active quarry that does blasting about three times a week and has heavy truck traffic.

The meeting was called to comment on FERC’s draft environmental impact statement for the planned expansion of Spectra Energy’s Algonquin Gas Transmission natural gas pipeline. The expansion would increase the capacity of the pipeline, which runs from New Jersey to Beverly. The project includes a new, 5-mile spur into West Roxbury.

A near universal concern was the lack of notice for the meeting and for an earlier informational session held by Spectra Energy. Many, including City Councilor Matt O’Malley, State Rep. Ed Coppinger, and representatives for Mayor Marty Walsh and City Counselor Michelle Wu, called for a second meeting. Despite the short notice and proximity to the election, more people turned out than the meeting’s organizers anticipated. Hotel staff put out an additional 30 chairs shortly after the meeting started.

Twenty-seven people spoke, two in favor of the pipeline and the rest expressing concern. Many voiced vigorous opposition. Here’s an audio recording of the hour-and-a-half comment session.

Here’s a sampling of the comments:

Several residents who live near the quarry said they were concerned about having a natural gas pipeline so close to such powerful explosions. “I live about two blocks from the quarry and when they blast in the quarry my whole house shakes like there’s been an explosion in the basement,” said Catherine Arnold, a Boston public school teacher.

Edward Doyle, a retired engineer and Dedham resident, noted that the environmental impact statement doesn’t include a list of structures that would be within 300 feet of the pipeline. “If there’s going to be a pipeline coming into Boston, it shouldn’t be through these high residential areas,” he said.

Doyle also referred to the San Bruno, California gas explosion and 1,000-foot fireball that killed eight people 4 years ago today. The pressure in that pipeline was 386 PSI. The pressure in the proposed West Roxbury pipeline would be 750 PSI.

Judy Kolligian of the Boston Climate Action Network noted that there are 4,000 gas leaks in National Grid’s distribution network in Boston and said that we should get a handle on fixing these before a new pipeline is built.

Several speakers expressed concern that the project could enable more fracking and gas export. And many speakers cited the threats to public health, the environment and the climate. “The cost estimates cited don’t include the health costs, the risk of worsening climate change, the loss of habitat and the deforestation,” said Susan Bergman, a physician from Framingham.

FERC is accepting additional comments until September 29. There are two ways to comment, either through FERC’s eFile system (follow the eFile link on the top right of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement information page) or by printing out this form and mailing it in.