Transco back, clearing trees over gas line

Tree removal described as ‘preventative maintenance’

BY BRIAN DONAHUE Staff Writer

The operator of a natural gas pipeline that runs through East Brunswick is continuing its efforts to clear trees from its easements, showing up last week in the neighborhoods around Evergreen Boulevard.

MICHAEL ACKER A worker fills in a hole where a tree was removed last week in the Timber Hollow development, off Evergreen Boulevard in East Brunswick. MICHAEL ACKER A worker fills in a hole where a tree was removed last week in the Timber Hollow development, off Evergreen Boulevard in East Brunswick. Transco, which operates a pipeline from Texas to New York City, is expected to continue the tree removal work over the next several weeks in sections of the township.

Joe Romano of Cosgrove Court, off Evergreen Boulevard, said workers showed up last week and started taking down trees from common, grassy areas in his neighborhood, including about five from his culde sac. He said he and his neighbors were not notified about the project and some were upset about the loss of trees that he estimated were 30 to 50 feet in height. In some cases, Romano said, the workers were cutting down entire trees; in others just halves of trees or certain limbs.

“They said they don’t have to advise us [beforehand] because they have the right of way,” Romano said of his discussions with the workers. Transco workers said they notified the township about the project, however.

Ironically, the name of Romano’s development is Timber Hollow. It is not part of the same neighborhood as Timber Road, where residents have pursued litigation to stop Transco from taking down trees there.

The company started removing trees around Timber Road in 2005, but the work has remained on hold as residents and the township fought the company in court. A state Superior Court judge, and later an appeals court, have ruled that the company can remove trees along its easement in order to protect and maintain the underground pipeline. Though the township is no longer involved in the matter, the residents of Timber Road have filed to have the case heard by the state Supreme Court. They are represented by attorney Steven Cahn, who could not be reached for this story.

The Timber Road residents have argued that Transco is trying to save money on inspections by eliminating the trees, because it could fly overhead to examine the area rather than send people to inspect on the ground. They said the removal of the mature trees that line their street will negatively impact the character of their neighborhood.

Township Attorney Michael Baker said the mayor and Township Council decided not to take part in the current appeal because they felt there was a minimal chance of success.

Transco owner Williams, of Tulsa, Okla., operates three natural gas transmission pipelines that deliver approximately 12 percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States. The company says it has to maintain clear rights of way to ensure that its operations remain as safe as possible.

“Williams must have unrestricted entry and access to all of its facilities at all times for regular maintenance or during emergency situations,” its Web site states. “A clear right of way provides easy identification and monitoring of the pipeline facilities, which is imperative in preventing third-party damage. Trees and large shrubs obstruct the view for foot patrols and aerial inspections, which are routine procedures for maintaining the rights of way. Tree roots also create a danger to the coating that protects the pipeline from corrosion.”

Baker said the company is cutting down trees near various roads in town including a section of Evergreen Boulevard.

“They do have cutting projects in other parts of the town, though they are not quite as visible as Timber Road,” he said.

Romano said the crews cut down dozens of trees over the course of two or three days last week in his area.

“It’s about a half-mile long path that they’ve been cutting all trees within 25 feet of each side of the pipeline,” he said Thursday. “There are still many more that they put blue tape on to indicate that these too are coming down.”

Transco spokesman Christopher Stockton said the company is clearing all the trees in its entire right of way through the township, which he said was made aware of the impending project. He said the tree removal began in October and will continue until late December.

“As you know, a judge ruled in our favor earlier this year that we had the right to remove the trees for safety reasons,” Stockton said in an e-mail. “Some of the Timber Road residents have appealed the case to the N.J. Supreme Court, so we are waiting to see if the case will be heard before we clear the Timber Road area.”

He said the work is for safety reasons and is necessary to keep steel pipelines from corroding and to keep tree roots from stripping the coating and exposing the pipeline to greater corrosion.

“Tree clearing can be thought of as preventative maintenance. We don’t want to wait for there to be an issue before we take action. As a responsible pipeline operator it is just the right thing to do,” Stockton said. “Operating a high-pressure natural gas pipeline is a great responsibility. Our tree removal program improves our ability to operate a safe pipeline system.”

Vincent Todaro contributed to this story.