New Federal Report Says Major Gas Pipeline Unsafe

A major interstate natural gas pipeline that runs across the bottom of New York state, not far from the Pennsylvania border, may risk rupture. A worker for the Millenium Pipeline found a leak back in January after discovering gas bubbling up in a local stream. The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration faults a poor welding job.
The Millenium Pipeline would connect with the proposed Marc 1 Pipeline, carrying natural gas from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale wells. The Marc 1 would run through Lycoming, Sullivan and Bradford counties and cross the border into New York, carrying natural gas to the major east coast markets.  The leak released 1.3 million cubic feet of gas. The PHMSA report says more faulty welds could exist along the length of the pipeline. Naturalgaswatch.org reports the poor welding job had been identified during construction, and set aside, but it was later installed.

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