Peabody Mayor Concerned About the Proposed Construction of a Natural Gas Pipeline

Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. has tasked the city’s Conservation Commission with coordinating efforts to advocate and protect city interests relative to proposed construction of a natural gas pipeline.

The Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company is seeking federal approval to expand its existing pipeline system from Middleton to Danvers. As part of its expansion, Tennessee Gas has proposed building a spur of subsurface pipeline in an area of west Peabody along the Middleton line.

“I have some very real concerns about this proposal and its potential effect on public safety and quality of life for Peabody residents,” said Mayor Bettencourt in a news release.. “I have asked the Conservation Commission to make this a standing topic at their meetings so that the public has access to the very latest information relative to the proposal and the process. We need to make sure that our neighborhoods are protected and that our valuable resources like our wetland areas and the Peabody Independence Greenway (bike path) are protected as well.”

Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline is an approximately 11,900-mile pipeline system that transports natural gas from Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico and south Texas to the northeast section of the United States, including New York City and Boston, according to Kinder Morgan.

The pipeline proposal is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and could involve a number of other federal and state agencies which have standards and regulations that affect natural gas pipelines.

The Peabody Conservation Commission is composed of nine volunteer members, appointed by the mayor. The Commission was established to protect and promote Peabody’s natural resources, to protect watershed resources, to protect wetland resource areas, to provide permitting review for proposed projects within resource areas and their buffers, and to coordinate with other city officials and boards on conservation issues that relate to its areas of responsibility.

“Each member of the ConCom brings varied experience and expertise which will be invaluable during such a complex regulatory process,”Mayor Bettencourt said. “It is important that Peabody residents know that they will have a team of seasoned advocates working on their behalf each and every step of the way.”

Mayor Bettencourt has also directed a representative of Peabody’s Fire Department; Public Services; Community Development; Park and Recreation; and legal departments to participate in the commission’s working group.

The mayor is encouraging members of the public to attend Conservation Commission’s meetings to help advocate for the city.

The Conservation Commission’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 in the lower level conference room at City Hall.