By John Waters, Publisher
In an interview with the Big Bend Gazette, Vickie Granado, spokesperson for Energy Transfer LP, said that the proposed 143-mile Trans-Pecos Pipeline for transporting natural gas will have no compression stations for the first ten years of operation. According to Granado, “All the compression will be done at Waha.”
The proposed pipeline that will originate at the Waha Hub near Fort Stockton and terminate at an interconnect with a pipeline near Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico will run 47 miles through Pecos County, 33 miles through Brewster County, and 63 miles through Presidio County.
According to a statement from Energy Transfer, the proposed pipeline will financially benefit local counties through increases in property tax valuations. If the pipeline is constructed, Pecos County will receive an additional $1.4 million annually, Brewster County, $1.0 million, and Presidio County, $1.9 million. According to the company.
Alyce Santoro of the Big Bend Conservation Alliance said she is opposed to the pipeline for a variety of reasons including potential impacts on the pristine Big Bend environment, and more noise and light pollution. Santoro said local opposition to the project comes from “all sides of the political spectrum,” which she called a “heartwarming” development.
A petition urging President Obama to veto the project has been created, said Santoro, and can be found at: petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/reject-waha-presidio-trans-pecos-pipeline. Cross-border pipelines such as the Keystone XL and the Trans-Pecos are subject to State Department review prior to acceptance or denial of a Presidential permit.
Santoro is encouraging the public to attend an informational meeting on the pipeline Wednesday, April 8 at 6 pm at the Alpine Public Library 805 West Avenue E in Alpine.
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