Public hearing to discuss pipeline

Friday, October 6, 2006

Local residents will have yet another opportunity next week to express concerns or ask questions about the proposed Rockies Express Pipeline set to cut across the northern part of Putnam County beginning in 2008.

Pipeline officials will host a public open house from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Bainbridge Community Building to talk about the 1,663-mile natural gas line set to stretch from Colorado to Ohio.

Last month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conducted a public hearing in Rockville where pipeline officials announced that the original route of the pipeline through Putnam County had been changed.

Ryan Childs, a representative of Rockies Express, said the pipeline will be routed south around the town of Bainbridge, rather than north as originally planned, because officials were worried about disturbing a nature preserve located north of town along the banks of Big Walnut Creek.

The original plans called for the pipeline to travel on the north side of U.S. 36 to just east of New Winchester, in Hendricks County, before heading south.

The line is proposed to travel south of Indianapolis and then head east toward Brookville in Franklin County where it will cross into Ohio's Butler County.

In all, the pipeline is proposed to travel through Vermillion, Parke, Putnam, Hendricks, Morgan, Johnson, Shelby, Decatur and Franklin counties in Indiana.

Meanwhile, controversy over the pipeline company's handling of the project continues in counties south of Indianapolis.

The Associated Press, along with Indianapolis news agencies, reported earlier this week that residents living along the proposed route have complained that survey crews scouting out the line have threatened them verbally to be allowed on their properties.

Officials with the pipeline have adamantly denied the claims, saying they would terminate any workers who were proven to be engaging in such behavior.

At next week's meeting, the pipeline company will begin with a brief presentation, to be followed by a question and answer session. They will provide barbecue for anyone who attends the meeting.

Anyone who has questions about the pipeline or who cannot attend the meeting, but would like to receive copies of information distributed at the meeting, is asked to call (866) 566-0066 or visit www.rexpipeline.com.

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