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Show Pipeline controversy escalates By JUDY JENSEN Editor The controversy over the proposed propos-ed Wasatch Variation of a natural gas pipeline which would cut across the foothills of Davis County is escalating. Recent developments have brought a fresh round oA debates. A sharply worded letter sent by Peter Kostmayer, chairman of the House Oversight Investigation Subcommittee Subcom-mittee was sent to Chief Dale Robertson of the U.S. Forest Service. Ser-vice. Kostmayer stated, "I continue to believe the 'Wasatch Variation' is environmentally inferior to several of the alternatives initially considered." In response to the six-page letter which called for answers to 30 questions, Dick Kline, public affairs officer for the Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service said his department does not see anything in the letter, "We are unable to address." ad-dress." Kline said the Forest Service is now in the process of preparing a written response that will be completed com-pleted by the deadline of July 10. He added that the Forest Service Plan is being amended to allow a pipeline in the Wasatch Variation. Only one pipeline will be approved by the Forest Service. Kline said that after further study, his department depart-ment had determined that "The original FERC study did not address ad-dress two pipelines, therefore we will not approve two." However, two companies claim they are ready to proceed with construction con-struction on the pipeline. Kem River Gas Transmission, and Wy-Cal Wy-Cal Pipeline Co. must now race to see which will received the necessary permits to proceed first. Opponents hope they can delay that permit process until the original permits issued by FERC to both companies have expired in January 1991. Attorney for the Bountiful Hills Residents and Concerned Citizens Association, Kenley Brunsdale feels that is possible. Brunsdale, a Bountiful resident and Democrat running for Congress against Jim Hansen said he has now put together a team of five Utah attorneys at-torneys who will join him in the fight against the Wasatch Variation. "These attorneys are the best in the state, and we're proceeding with a suit that claims the route was chosen in violation of the Federal National Environmental Policy Act. We're going to ask for an injunction to stop the Wasatch Variation," said Brunsdale. On Sunday, Brunsdale squared off against former Utah State Governor, Gov-ernor, Scott Matheson, representing the pipeline companies, and Bountiful Boun-tiful Mayor Bob Linnell, whom Brunsdale has criticized for "throwing in the towel too early," on the issue. The trio debated the pipeline issue on the channel 4 broadcast of "Utah 1990." Linnell stated once again that Bountiful feels any further legal action would be a waste of taxpayers money and his city is interested in trying "to mitigate the impact on our community." com-munity." Matheson stated that the national public interest could be served by building the pipeline, as air pollution pollu-tion in California, the destination of the natural gas the pipeline would cany, would be reduced by its construction. con-struction. He also spoke of the economic benefits Utah would realize real-ize if the pipeline is built. "Scott Matheson is on the wrong side of this issue," responded Brunsdale. "We wouldn't put an oil well in Temple Square just because it ' s profitable. There are some things you just don't do." When the pipeline was first in-- in-- 'rod j::d scv. al yean, ago, the f orest Service denied a route which traveled 18 miles through the Uintah Uin-tah National Forest. Officials determined de-termined the area to be less stable, although it was in an unpopulated area. According to Kline, with 157 mitigating steps attached to the Wasatch Wa-satch Variation and public concerns escalating, it may have been less expensive to use the first route proposed pro-posed than the Wasatch Variation. "They've now required that a double standard of pipe be used near residential areas. It is extremely extreme-ly expensive to adhere to these standards," said Kline. And the costs of the Wasatch Variation are continuing to mount. Brunsdale said legal action calling for an injunction will be filed in the next two weeks. |