Kinder Morgan wants to replace its pipeline beneath Detroit River – Windsor Star

Citizens Environment Alliance executive director Derek Coronado , shown in this 2013 file photo, is concerned about the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion under the Detroit River. Jason Kryk / Windsor Star

Pipeline giant Kinder Morgan is looking to replace a one-kilometre pipeline that runs under the Detroit River between Wayne County and Windsor with one thats bigger and buried deeper in the ground.

And the Citizens Environment Alliance vows to pay close attention to the project, to guard against any problems that could harm the environment. The company itself cites such potential risks during construction as: soil degradation, temporary loss of wildlife habitat; introduction of invasive species; and damage to wildlife, water quality and soil by unintended loss of drilling fluids.

It is expected that potential environmental and socio-economic effects will only occur during construction, which will involve vegetation clearing, topsoil stripping, excavation, (horizontal directional drilling), backfilling, site grading and clean-up, Kinder Morgan says. It lists seven measures it will take to head off or address any problems, from restoring vegetation to a spill prevention and response plan. We are committed to the safe and efficient operation of our pipeline systems in accordance with environmental and safety laws and regulations, the company says in a document detailing the project.

The environment alliances executive director Derek Coronado agreed the biggest risk will be during construction.

Generally, replacing old infrastructure with new infrastructure is a good thing, these things become stressed and weakened over time, particularly when youre dealing with a hazardous material, said Coronado.

According to a letter sent in June to the City of Windsor, Kinder Morgan intends to file an application to the National Energy Board next month to authorize the project. According to a map supplied by the company, the pipeline runs between a point in the Michigan side east of Zug Island to just east of Prospect Avenue in west Windsor. Attempts to interview company representatives on Wednesday werent successful.

Coronado said the alliance will be seeking safeguards, such as bonds and other commitments by Kinder Morgan to pay for cleanups if any accidents occur.

The pipeline from Wayne County to Windsor is part of the 346-km Kinder Morgan Utopia Pipeline. The company is building new 12-inch pipeline from Harrison County, Ohio to its existing pipeline and facilities in Fulton County, Ohio, continuing on to Windsor. The new Utopia system would transport natural gas liquids, including ethane and ethane-propane mixtures for use in the plastics industry.

The company is currently doing construction work on the U.S. portion of the pipeline and wants to take the opportunity to improve the pipeline beneath the river, going from a 10-inch-diameter pipe to 1,025 metres of 12-inch pipeline. It also wants to replace 472 metres of existing pipeline on the Windsor side with 332 metres of new 12-inch pipeline using open-cut trenching.

The pipeline going under the river will be installed using horizontal directional drilling, a trenchless method that has minimal impact on the surrounding area, according to the company which says HDD was chosen to avoid disturbing aquatic habitat and halting ship traffic.

HDD involves drilling a smaller-diameter pilot hole between the entry and exit points, angling gradually down to below the river bed, proceeding horizontally and then angling up again to the exit point. Then the pilot hole is expanded by going back from the exit to the entrance with a reamer attached to the drill. Once the hole is cleaned out and prepared, the pipeline is pulled back, from entrance to exit.

Kinder Morgan hopes to start construction in June 2018 and have the pipeline back in service by October. The old pipeline is gong to be left in the ground, decommissioned in place in a safe manner, according to the company.

bcross@postmedia.com

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Kinder Morgan wants to replace its pipeline beneath Detroit River - Windsor Star