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Show Fading pipe resistance looks to new legislation By JUDY JENSEN Asst Managing Editor BOUNTIFUL The city, having lost its battle with the Forest Service to stop the proposed Kern RiverWyCal pipeline from coming through picturesque Mueller Park, has pinned its hopes on Rep. James R. Hansen, R-Utah. The congressman announced on Thursday that he would sign on as a cosponsor of an anti-pipeline bill introduced in-troduced by Nevada Republican Congressman James H. Bilbray. The proposed legislation amends the Mineral Leasing Act to keep the Bureau of Land Management from granting a right-of-way to the pipeline. The proposed 36-inch diameter pipeline will transport neutral gas along a 904-mile route from Wyoming Wyom-ing to California. The portion labeled label-ed as the Wasatch Variation crosses through Mueller Park east of Bountiful Boun-tiful and continues along the Wasatch Wa-satch Front Bountiful Hills Residents and Concerned Con-cerned Citizens (BHRCCA), have strongly opposed the Wasatch Variation pipeline route. Tixier's announcement confirmed confirm-ed the Oct 17 decision of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest Supervisor Super-visor Susan Giannettino's decision - to allow two concurrently built pipelines to be built along the Wasatch Wa-satch Variation. Following the decision, appeals were issued by Bountiful, and by attorney at-torney Kenley B runs dale on behalf of the BHRCCA, the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club, and the Utah Wildlife Federation. A similar appeal ap-peal by the city of North Salt Lake was dismissed as it was filed after the 45-day appeal period specified. B run sd lie's appeal asked the Forest Service not to amend the Forest Plan until it was "certain the Wasatch Variation is necessary and the best alternative plan." His appeal ap-peal also called for an investigation of the Mojave System to see if it is an adequate alternative. they fail to construct concurrently with Kem River, or relinquish their certificate... the Forest Service must continue to treat their proposal as an active one,' said Tixier. Coon said she is not surprised by the Forest Service decision. "I was hoping for something better, but with all the corruption I've seen at all levels of government beginning at the local level and right up through federal level, I'm not surprised," sur-prised," said Coon. She declined to comment on the accusation, saying the information would be forthcoming. forthcom-ing. Hansen spokesman Peter Jenks said although the congressman is not optimistic about Bilbray's chance of success, Hansen will garner as much support as possible. Jenks said Hansen felt the bill is another an-other attempt to say there are some problems with this pipeline that are still unresolved "That is why we are co sponsoring,' ' said Jenks. Hansen will discuss the bill with his colleagues and try to persuade them to support the it BU bray's appeal would have to be recognized by the BLM, one of the powerful regulatory agencies in the government "Any bill which has to do with the decision-making process within the administering agencies is difficult When you try to circumvent circum-vent them, it's an indication that the process may not be working which opens up a whole can of worms," Jenks said. He added the congressman believes that in the beginning the Wasatch Variation "did not give consideration to the impact on the people." He said if this bill is not successful, the opponents could still seek relief in the courts. Opposition groups have pledged to continue to fight the Wasatch Variation by appealing a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision in 10th U.S. Circuit Court. Bountiful City Councilwoman ReNee Coon said she is pleased to learn of Hansen's decision to support sup-port Bilbray's legislation. "I don't know how swiftly it can go through. I hope it can happen in a hurry. They've already started building the pipeline," she said. Kem River Gas Transmission Co. started construction in St. George Jan. 2. The pipeline is scheduled to arrive in Bountiful in June. Regional Forester Stan Tixier announced the Forest Plan will in fact be amended to allow Kem River Gas Transmission Co. to build a natural-gas pipeline across the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The decision dismissed the appeal ap-peal filed by Bountiful City requesting re-questing no pipeline be allowed to cross the Wasatch Variation. The In his appeal Brunsdale referred to specific actions being taken by certain congressmen to stop the pipeline, suggesting the Forest Service Ser-vice should not make its final ruling until those actions were satisfied. Tixier responded that although the Forest Service appreciates and respects the actions of individual members of Congress to affect the outcome of the decision, until Congress Con-gress as a whole has expressed its will in the matter, the Forest Service would continue to process the appeals. ap-peals. Since the appeals were filed, WyCal has withdrawn its application applica-tion from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for right of way. Tixier said despite that fact, WyCal has not totally abandoned its project "They have requested the BLM to maintain on file their application for a right-of-way grant... .Until |