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Show Nev. enters pipeline fight BOUNTIFUL The Forest Service decision on an appeal by opponents of the Wasatch Variation of the Kern River natural gas pipeline was expected today, federal spokesman Richard Kline said. The appeal, which questioned the Forest Service decision to allow two pipelines to be built simultaneously simul-taneously along the route, was just one more in a long line of attempts to stop construction across the Wasatch Front of the 36-inch pipeline which will transport natural gas along a 904 mile pipeline from Wyoming to The fight against the pipeline was joined last week by Nevada Republican Congressman James H. Bilbray, who introduced a bill amending the Mineral Leasing Act to keep the Bureau of Land Management from granting a right-of-way for the pipeline, "until the Bureau Bu-reau of Land Management has certified to Congress that this route is preferable to all other feasible, alternative alter-native routes." Bountiful attorney Kenley Brunsdale, who has lead the fight against the Wasatch Variation for local protesters, pro-testers, has been hired by Nevadans to help with their quest to stop the pipeline. Brunsdale said this is the perfect opportunity for Rep. James Hansen, R-Utah, "to put politics aside and finally do something to stop this pipeline." Brunsdale said this is the legislation that Hansen should have already introduced. In announcing Bilbray' s action, Brunsdale challenged Hansen to urge Utah senators to introduce similar legislation in the Senate. Brunsdale faced Hansen in a hotly contested congressional con-gressional race in November. The Wasatch Variation was one of the most debated issues at that time. He suggested Hansen had given Davis County residents "lip service" instead of any concrete action in fighting the pipeline. As of press time, Hansen was unavailable to the Clipper for comment on whether he will support Bilbray's legislation. Bilbray is concerned with the fact that construction on the pipeline has already begun in southern Utah, even though appeals are still pending. Kem River began construction earlier this month. Bilbray has also sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERQ asking why Kern River has been allowed to commence construction if all of the environmental issues surrounding construction have not been addressed. The letter, dated Jan. 10 asks if Kem River has "received all of the authorizations from the Commission or the Office of Pipeline and Producer Regulation (OPPR) necessary to begin construction con-struction of the facilities authorized." The letter asks the FERC to investigate whether Kem River has begun unauthorized construction. A Kem River Gas Transmission Co. spokesman was unavailable for comment on the legality of the company's com-pany's southern Utah construction which began Jan. 2. "I'm going to do everything I can to help them (Nevada) legally," Brunsdale said. He added that Nevada is not saying "no" to the pipeline. "They are just saying until it can be certified to Congress this is the best route they want it stopped. We don't care if it is the most attractive financially. It must also be the most feasible for safety, and environmental reasons," Brunsdale said. |