Count Independence Township as one of the local governments concerned about plans for a Consumers Energy pipeline.
At their March 2 meeting, the Independence Board of Trustees authorized their attorney Steve Joppich to intervene on behalf of the township.
The plan calls for 24.4 miles of a 36-inch natural gas pipeline to be built. A total of six miles of the pipeline would go through Independence Township.
The lack of information is what is concerning the board. They have not received a detailed map of exactly where the pipe would be built. They are concerned the pipe might be routed through wetlands and how that would affect the area.
‘We need to see detailed maps,? Trustee Dan Travis said.
The trustees voted to allow Joppich to file a petition to intervene so they would not be shut out of the process. There will be a hearing in front of the Michigan Public Services Commission. While the hearing has yet to be scheduled, those wanting to intervene need to file at least seven days before the meeting.
‘We can back out at anytime in the process if all our questions are addressed and we are satisfied with the results,? Joppich said.
While the township is intervening, individual residents can also intervene on their own behalf.
Debra Dodd, a spokesman for Consumers Energy, said the company made route changes to be sensitive to environmental concerns.
‘We are fast reaching our capacity to serve customers in Southeast Michigan,? Dodd said, noting a real crisis in 2008 if nothing is done.
The route for the new pipeline was chosen in part because of the existing 22-inch pipeline and ‘valve sites.?
Dodd said Consumers? policy is to have an environmental engineer on the job site every day of construction.
The board stopped short of adopting a resolution in opposition of the plans, which was a stance taken recently by Springfield and Rose Townships.
‘I don’t think it is time appropriate for a resolution when we don’t have all the information yet,? Travis said.