Rockland County Executive Plans To Fight Oil Pipeline Proposal
NEW CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Pilgrim Pipeline has applied in New York to build a subterranean dual conduit for crude oil and refined petroleum products between Albany and Linden, New Jersey.
It would pass through four miles of western Rockland County near the Ramapo River, WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he doesn't like the path.
"We are looking at the potential for work that will cut through a pristine corner of the county," Day told Adams. "This could put our watershed at risk. We get drinking water from these aquifiers. So environmentally, there's not just no benefit; there's a potential risk."
But Pilgrim spokesman Paul Nathanson said pipelines are reliable and safe -- sturdy steel, reinforced joints, emergency pressure shutoff valves.
He added the pipeline would reduce the number of oil barges and trains in the region.
"Taking 2,000 ... barge operations off the Hudson River each year is not insignificant," Nathanson said.
But Day points out that Bakken crude trains go to Philadelphia, and the pipeline would only run to Linden.
He plans to lobby against the plan and possibly fight it in court.
Pilgrim hopes to file applications in New Jersey within a few months. The proposal is subject to a review in New York.
