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Jersey City Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Under Fire

JERSEY CITY, NJ (WCBS 880) - Visions of cities going up in flames have residents in Jersey City nervous about the extension of a natural gas pipeline.

WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports from Hudson County

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A planning board meeting was packed Tuesday night.

"The risk is far too great," says Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who recalled recent gas pipeline explosions. "Philadelphia about a month ago, San Bruno about 6 months ago."

Spectra Energy Expansion Map
Spectra Energy Expansion Map

But then again, there is Frank Hoffman who says, "Pipelines are the safest thing on Earth."

Hoffman is a leading engineer for an area firm who says he's tested many pipelines in his 40 years of work.

"You could put one under my house anytime you want," says Hoffman, who adds that extending Spectra's pipeline system would bring much needed construction jobs.

Spectra Energy hopes to complete expansion of its existing Texas Eastern Transmission and Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline systems with a completion date of November 2013.

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