Gas lines would go by Lakeview, into Malin

Hearings planned on natural gas project

By LEE JUILLERAT

H&N Regional Editor

April 20, 2008

   The route of a proposed 680-mile natural gas pipeline from Wyoming to Oregon goes though Nevada and west into Oregon , passing just south of Lakeview before continuing west to an existing hub in Malin. 

   The 42-inch diameter line would be capable of transporting about 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day. Public hearings on the project are scheduled for Tuesday in Malin and Wednesday in Lakeview. 

   The Ruby pipeline is one of several pipeline projects intended to expand the shipping of natural gas out of the Rocky Mountains . Another project, the Bronco Pipeline announced last November, would follow the same path and have a capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day. Cost of that project is estimated at $3 million. 

    Fremont-Winema National Forest realty specialist Catherine Callaghan said the forest has received no details of that project. 

   Ruby Pipeline L .L .C. would construct and operate the Ruby natural gas pipeline, along with two new compressor stations and related facilities in Wyoming , Utah , Nevada and Oregon . No cost estimates have been released by El Paso Corp., the company that proposed the project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will prepare an environmental impact statement. 

   Ruby plans to file its formal application with FERC next January. If approved, construction could begin in 2010 with completion by early 2011. 

   The BLM is preparing an environmental impact stat ement because the project would cross federally administered lands in four states. The Forest Service also is participating because the project would cross the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah and the Fremont-Winema National Forests in Lake and Klamath counties. 

   FERC spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen said representatives would attend the two hearings to answer questions and Ruby Pipeline representatives would be available to discuss impacted properties. Among concerns are impacts on water ways, cultural resources, endangered species, air quality and noise. 

   Hearings have already been held in Elko , Nev. , Kemmerer , Wyo. , and Brigham City , Utah . A Thursday hearing in Winnemucca , Nev. , will complete the series of meetings.

Side Bar

Ruby Pipeline proposal

   Construction of the Ruby Pipeline Project is proposed between Kemmerer in western Wyoming through northern Utah and Nevada on its way to Lakeview and Malin. 

   If approved, Ruby would use 115-foot wide construction right-of-ways. Additional work would be required at water bodies, wetlands, roads, railroads, staging areas, pipe yards, contractor’s yards and lead to the widening of certain access roads. 

   Based on preliminary estimates, construction would disturb about 12,000 acres of land, with 8,000 acres temporarily disturbed and 4,000 acres permanently maintained for operating the pipeline. About 60 percent of the proposed route would cross land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service.

Public hearings planned

   Public hearings on a proposal to build and operate 680 miles of pipeline from southwestern Wyoming to Malin, are planned Tuesday in Malin and Wednesday in Lakeview. 

   The Malin session will be 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Malin Community Hall. The Lakeview meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lakeview Elks Lodge. 

   “I would encourage everyone if they have questions or concerns to go to the meetings,” said Catherine Callaghan, the Fremont-Winema’s realty specialist. She said the sessions would include general information and more specific maps showing possible gas line routes. Most private landowners have already been contacted.

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