[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S10583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SPECTER:
  S. 2909. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to allow 
the Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation to increase the diameter of a 
natural gas pipeline located in the Delaware Water Gap National 
Recreation Area; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I seek recognition to introduce a bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to modify existing right-of-way 
agreements to allow an increase in the diameter of an existing natural 
gas pipeline in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pike 
County, Pennsylvania.
  In 1947, Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation installed a 14-inch 
diameter pipeline, known as Line 1278, that included construction in 
the then rural areas of Pike, Northampton and Monroe counties. This 
system has become an important part of the energy delivery system to 
key eastern markets.
  The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) directed 
Columbia in 2002 and 2003 to take actions going forward with Line 1278, 
including additional testing, additional cathodic, corrosion, 
protection and replacement of portions of the pipeline. DOT ordered 
that the replacement must be completed by 2007. To comply with the DOT 
instructions, Columbia in December 2003 filed an application with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to replace about 43 miles of this 
pipeline, including 3.5 miles of the line that now lie within the 
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
  At issue are two right-of-way agreements affecting property now 
within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that do not 
allow Columbia to increase the diameter of the pipeline. The Recreation 
Area was formed in 1965 through the acquisition of many tracts of 
private property. Columbia's Line 1278 runs through 14 of these tracts 
under the terms of right-of-way agreements obtained from landowners 
prior to the Recreation Area's creation. Agreements affecting 12 of the 
14 tracts include language allowing Columbia to increase the diameter 
of the pipeline. However, two of the agreements, representing about 890 
feet of the pipeline, do not include such authorization.
  Under current law, the Secretary of the Interior lacks legislative 
authorization to enter into an agreement to grant a pipeline easement 
that will allow an increase in the diameter of Line 1278. To complete 
the planned upgrade to improve energy reliability in the region, 
enabling legislation is required.
  This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into 
an agreement with Columbia to grant a pipeline easement to allow an 
increase in the diameter of Line 1278 from 14 inches to 20 inches in 
diameter. Timely enactment will allow the replacement to be performed 
efficiently in conjunction with the overall replacement project, and 
the uniform size will facilitate the use of ``smart pigging'' 
technology to utilize inspection vehicles inside pipelines to help 
assure long-term safety and reliability of this important energy 
infrastructure.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation for this important 
project.

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