University Revamps Pipeline Plans

STATE COLLEGE - The Penn State Board of Trustees voted on Friday to approve a new route for a proposed natural-gas pipeline.

Many living near the university had expressed concerns with the original pipeline plan because parts of the pipeline would have gone through State College neighborhoods.

Residents made those feelings known back in April during a borough council meeting.

Many expressed concerns about what they saw as safety issues combined with construction inconvenience.?

New EPA standards prompted Penn State to convert its West Campus Boiler Facility from coal to natural gas, and in order to get the gas to the facility, it needs to build a pipeline. Columbia Gas is the company building the pipeline.

Because of concerns from many in the neighborhoods affected over safety and construction, the State College Borough Council passed a resolution opposing its construction.

Now, it appears Penn State and Columbia Gas have worked on a new path for the pipeline.

Javan Briggs lives on Prospect Street, one of the streets that would have been affected by the original plan. She's relieved that Penn State has voted to go in a different direction.

"They can't just continue to make decisions without consideration of the community," she said. "I'm hoping this will signal increased transparency on the part of Penn State, and perhaps a partnership."

In a news release, Penn State acknowledged the concerns of the residents.

In response to PSU's change of plans the borough of State College issued a statement saying it appreciated the university's efforts to keep the pipeline on campus.

Source: http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext?nxd_id=479672

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