Restoration Work Continues for Pipeline Projects in Ohio; Legal Fights Continue as Well
From The Canton Repository:
“We have developed plans to mitigate the unusual rain conditions and we remain on schedule to complete final restoration activities by the fourth quarter of 2019,” Parker wrote. “Most restoration occurs within the first year following completion of construction. However, the process can take longer, depending on weather and other environmental impacts that may interrupt the restoration process.”
Parker wrote that the goal was to restore the pipeline right-of-way to as close to pre-construction conditions as possible, and minimize long-term impacts. He encouraged landowners with questions about restoration to call the company’s toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 844-589-3655.
As the restoration continues, so do several lawsuits filed by landowners in counties along the NEXUS route, including five cases in Stark County.
The lawsuits allege NEXUS and its construction contractor, Michels Corp.:
- Pumped or diverted water onto farms and residential properties without permission.
- Destroyed topsoil and crops on farms and failed to control erosion.
- Failed to repair damaged drain tiles and properly reclaim land.
- Caused farmers to lose crops and prevented some landowners from using their properties.
“The cases are preceding in court,” said Michael A. Thompson, attorney for the landowners.
Rover Pipeline update
The other major pipeline built recently in Stark County is the Rover Pipeline. Its twin 42-inch-diameter mainlines cross the county’s southern townships and transport up to 3.25 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Texas-based Energy Transfer owns the 713-mile Rover system.
Rover has completed restoration work in Stark County, but standard practice is to monitor the right-of-way for any issues, Energy Transfer spokeswoman Alexis Daniel wrote in an email.
But the state’s lawsuit against Rover and its contractors is now underway in the 5th District Court of Appeals.
The Ohio Attorney General sued in 2017 over alleged environmental violations in more than a dozen counties related to sediment-laden stormwater, leaks and spills of clay-based drilling fluid and the release of water used to pressure-test the pipeline.Continue reading by clicking here.