Feds approve West Roxbury gas pipeline; work could begin in May

Wicked Local West Roxbury reports the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave basic approval earlier this month to a pipeline company's New England expansion plans, which include a 4-mile pipeline from Westwood into West Roxbury.

If the commission approves Spectra Energy's specific construction plans this spring, construction on the $95-million West Roxbury Lateral pipeline could begin in May.

In its decision (attached below), the commission said the company has taken more than adequate steps to protect the pipeline and the "meter station" where natural gas will enter National Grid's distribution system across the street from the West Roxbury quarry and so residents shouldn't have to worry about being incinerated in a blinding ball of flame.

The commission says the West Roxbury portion of the pipeline will be extra insulated in compacted sand or a concrete mixture to reduce any potential issues from vibrations from the quarry - and notes two existing water mains and a smaller gas pipeline along Grove Street have never had any problems.

Many commenters note that one to two homes that were previously located at the site of the meter station experienced damage from blasting-related vibration. The meter station buildings, however, will be engineered pre-fabricated, pre-cast concrete structures designed for industrial use. Also, the in-line tool receivers and launchers, and the heaters will be above-grade, steel construction, and are not considered especially sensitive to vibrations.

Further, in 2009, the quarry changed its blasting operations to reduce the potential for fly rock. [A consultant]'s report states that based on the location of the proposed meter station relative to the quarry, the probability of a projectile from a blast operation at the quarry landing on the meter station site is highly unlikely. The probability of such a rock inflicting a direct strike on a segment of the limited amount of exposed pipe is less than 10,000,000 to 1. Based on this analysis, the final EIS concludes that fly rock does not pose a concern for interruption of service or the release of natural gas at the meter station.