WendyMehndi WaltzingDog: May 2014

I've titled this one "Part 2" with the idea that there will be a 3, a 4 , and probably a 5...

Last week, on May 20th, machinery noises were occurring on the pipeline. That evening we went out to investigate, and found a couple machines. I documented our exploration in "Part 1".

On May 21nd as the machinery noise continued, I walked over to find out what the project was. The 2 gentlemen present were from S&ME. They kindly stopped the machinery to answer my questions.

They said their company was hired by the PSNC project. They were drilling core samples for the project, so that they knew what sort of earth the project would be drilling through. They would be drilling down 90 feet. The pipeline was to be at 30 feet.

The random vehicle with the water tanks was a refurbished log truck, which they were using to carry water up from the creek to facilitate the drilling.

The deep machinery noises continued through May 22nd, totalling 3 days so far of head-ache inducing disturbance.

Just after 11:00am May 27th

Jack Cox from EMS called me this morning and asked if we were ready to move forward with the papers.

I told him there was a document that was referenced in the papers he had given us that was not included. I couldn't give him the name of it (Ken had spotted the reference), but I would check.

Looking at my documents after the call, I think what is missing is something called a "Damage Release". Sure would like to see that. And I'm certainly not going to sign it without a lawyer's careful eye.

He told me the drillers they were from the EPA. I told him they were hired by PSNC and doing core samples to know what they were drilling through. After reading a bit on the S&ME website I can see how that is the same thing from either direction.

He asked if I had a map that showed the Cardinal line as well as the PSNC. I do - one he gave me, and an older one. (Interestingly, they don't quite match.)

I asked him again about the placement of the new pipeline. He said that the existing PSNC line was 15 feet from the easement line (okay, I'll take his word for that.) The new PSNC line would be 15 feet south of that.

Wait a minute.

I informed him that the existing Cardinal line is ONLY 20 to 30 feet from the PSNC line. If you put in a new PSNC line 15 feet from the first, that puts it only 5 feet from the Cardinal line in places. He appeared not to know this. He sounded kinda surprised, and told me he would check on that.

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.