Published: May 28, 2008 11:49 am      

Gas line draws local heat

Landowners object to proposed extension

jeff.waters@gaflnews.com



A natural gas line extension proposed for Suwannee County could affect about 90 local landowners.

The project will entail extending the existing pipeline, owned by Florida Gas Transmission Company, or FGTC, in an effort to accommodate increased demand for natural gas.

The extension would increase capacity by about one billion cubic feet per day of natural gas.

A 35-mile loop will be constructed in the southern part of Suwannee County, as well as another segment about 22 miles long, including about eight miles of pipeline in the northwest part of the county.

FGTC would obtain a permanent right-of-way easement about 50 feet in width. A company spokesperson said a majority of the pipeline route would parallel existing utility rights-of-way.

“The reason for the Phase VIII project is to help insure that Florida and other gulf coast states have enough energy to meet future needs. Tremendous growth means more energy,” said John Barnett, external affairs representative for FGTC.

Barnett said final determination of the route has not been made, however.

The company is looking at several different routes, he said. One route would move the pipeline out of Suwannee County and into Madison County.

“It is very early in the process,” Barnett said in reference to where the route will be located and how many landowners will be affected. The current proposed route would affect about 90 landowners in Suwannee County. Construction is set to begin about 2010. Barnett said landowners will be contacted and possible routes surveyed before a final route is determined. Landowners will have a right-of-way agent who will make sure the owner is fairly compensated if a pipeline is installed.

“Our goal is to have a minimal disruption to day-to-day lives,” Barnett said.

Barnett said landowners will be able to continue to use their land after the pipeline is built, though no permanent buildings are allowed to be placed upon a pipeline.

Barnett said the surveys will determine whether there are any permanent structures, such as a house, on the proposed route and that FGTC will then determine what actions to take. “We will gather all the information to see what will happen,” said Barnett.

Maria Bonura and her husband, John, who own land and live in Luraville, are opposed to the pipeline, which would run through their property.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Bonura said. “We moved out here for a reason.”

Bonura said when they moved out to the country they thought they would be out of reach of such concerns.

Bonura said FGTC representatives were open to their concerns, though.

“They were very open and receptive to what we (the landowners) had to say.”

The Bonuras sent a letter to the FGTC denying them access to their property for a survey.

They said they do not want what they described as their “personal utopia” destroyed.

In a letter to FTGC, the Bonuras listed three of their main concerns.

First, they fear the value of their land will be diminished. Second, they routinely burn their fields, and suggest the pipeline would create safety concerns. Finally, they say the installation of the pipeline would require them to purchase a more comprehensive property insurance policy than they now have.

Paul Millington, also of Luraville, doesn’t want the pipeline to cross his property either. Millington owns land on the Suwannee River. The current proposed route would appear to put the pipeline under the river and directly through his house. (A survey has not yet confirmed this.)

FGTC “already has existing rights-of-way they can use that will not cause any problems,” Millington said. “If they use these the environmental footprint will be felt much less.”

A number of other landowners objected to the proposed extension as well, but would not speak for the record.

If the project is approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, property needed for the project could be seized by means of eminent domain.

Public meetings are being held to answer landowners’ questions about the proposed extension. The next meeting in the region will be held Wednesday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at the Catholic Church Parish hall in Perry. Those not able to attend may call 1-877-663-9161 or visit www.panhandleenergy.com/fgt/phaseviii for more information.