Environmental Impact Minimal for Pipeline Across Indiana

A draft environmental impact statement for a natural gas pipeline plotted to cross nine Indiana counties says adverse effects from the project will be minimal.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday published its preliminary findings on the Rockies Express East pipeline, a 639-mile project stretching from Missouri to Ohio. It's part of a 1,679-mile project that reaches west to Colorado.

Commission staff concluded that the "project would have mostly limited adverse environmental impact and would be an environmentally acceptable action," if Rockies Express officials followed 149 FERC recommendations and their own mitigation procedures.

Plans are for the 42-inch pipeline to enter the state north of Terre Haute in Vermillion County, run south of Indianapolis and cross into Ohio near Brookville. Pipeline officials have said they want to begin construction next spring and have the pipeline operating by June 2009.

Some opponents of the pipeline's route have called for an alternative route that would take it north of Indianapolis through areas where easements already exist, but the draft report left one resigned the pipeline would go through as planned.

"One would have to think it's a done deal, that this is really just kind of going through the motions at this point," said Joe Rust of Greensburg, a member of the grass roots group Reroute REX. "From what I can see, there don't seem to be any major impediments that would stop the project from going through."

However, the commission concluded the northern route would not provide a clear environmental advantage and would come too close to existing homes.

The study said 74 percent of the more than 14,300 acres that would be disturbed by the pipeline are farmland. More than 4,000 acres would be retained permanently.

Ten threatened or endangered species might occur in the project area, including the Indiana bat. Because the project is likely to adversely affect the Indiana bat, FERC said it would ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a formal opinion.

The draft environmental impact statement is open for public comment through Jan. 14.

FERC said it would hold three comment meetings in Indiana: Jan. 7 at Clark's Hall in Rockville, Jan. 8 at Greensburg Junior High School and Jan 9 at Greenwood High School. Each of the meetings begins at 6 p.m.

Commission staff will review before issuing a final environmental impact statement early next year.