PSNC Pipe Line Project Part 1

May 20th 2014

PSNC wants to add a 3rd gas pipeline to the right of way area on the side of our land. 

I am blogging this because the whole process seems a bit questionable.

The new pipeline is to run in between the existing PSNC line which was apparently laid in 1952, and the Cardinal Line, laid in 1999. We have been given a map showing this.

I believe I was told by Jack Cox, who is currently representing PSNC on this project, that they needed 30' of space between lines. The existing lines are 30 to 20 feet apart, with no room in between them. 

PSNC is offering us $1 per rod (16 feet) of usage space. This amount was agreed upon in the original right of way easement usage contract drafted in 1952. At that time in history, minimum wage was $0.75. Per the 1952 agreement, they are offering us $72, plus a $200 check writing bonus. The current year is 2014. Minimum wage is $7.50, and land values are WAY up.

We only seem to have some of the paperwork.
We have not yet signed to release for the work to begin. 

Vehicle Number One

Today, May 20, 2014, I heard machinery and engine sounds. Tonight, this was parked in the field closer to the road, inside the fence. the fence is currently padlocked. I don't know what this vehicle is even for.

 Some sort of heavy vehicle with 2 water tanks on back.

The back container on it was empty. Not sure about the front one.

The back of the empty water container on the truck had this label on it. (center, rear)

 And this one too (left of the one above)

There are tracks down the clearing leading to the other big machine.

Vehicle Number Two, Drilling

On the pipe line they were drilling south of both the existing PSNC line and the Cardinal line. Why?

This evening, this machine still has a bit in the ground. 

The metal protective trough shown in the front of this picture was near it, but empty (no dirt).

This is the drilling machine from the creek side, looking toward Buckhorn road. Our property is to the left:

The hole being drilled is about 20-30 feet SOUTH of the Cardinal line. 

Why is it being drilled? 

If the new pipeline is to be between the 2 existing ones, why are they drilling outside of the 2 lines?

Across Turkey Hill Creek, looking west, is a mowed/pressed area of grass in the center of the clearing. There is something white in that area. Up toward the road (Bradshaw Quarry Road) on that side are some vehicles parked. (hard to see because of the sunset)

These yellow flags run down the center of the field.

I noticed that the PSNC pipeline is not marked. 

Here is the flag, with Ken standing at the edge of our woods. He paced this distance from the Cardinal flag to our woods line to be about 30 (thirty) feet.

There is a marked stake in the ground by the boring-machine:

There is a soft hole in the track near the boring-machine. I could poke a stick into the dirt of it. If it's an animal hole, it is not in use. 

Ken is pointing to the hole (shown directly above this pic) and the distance to the boring-machine.

You can also see the some of tracks worn through the weeds and stuff.

Boring-machine bit in the earth:

These flags are on the far side of the pipeline (south side), along the woods

 Ken is standing at the line of markers for the Cardinal line. He is looking toward the pressure release valve station. He paced the distance between the Cardinal line here and the station at 20 (twenty) feet. 

 This access point is in the ground by the pressure release valve station

 This far from it:

Don't know if this is over the PSNC or Cardinal line.

 There is also another one closer to Buckhorn Road

The pressure release valve station is in the upper right:
(my back is to Buckhorn Road, I am facing west) 

Big Rig by the Buckhorn Road

This is the big rig parked down by the road.

 

This is across Buckhorn road on Heather's corner. The pipeline fence off the road would be off to the right in this pic. Left is north.

This on the truck cab:

 This from the truck's trailer:

 Front of the cab:

 This is the corner of our property, with trees they mentioned cutting down. Among them are maple, poplar, and pine.