With all the news lately, sometimes local issues get buried or forgotten. But folks who live in and around 180th Avenue SE between Bothell-Everett Highway and east of Highway 9 should be aware that the North Seattle Lateral Upgrade — a fracked gas pipeline expansion — is being planned along this main county arterial and it was recently approved by Snohomish County Planning. The Shoreline Permit and the Land Disturbing Activity permit has a public comment period for those who wish to comment on this project.
We believe this project moves our region in the wrong direction. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission estimated this 6-mile stretch of pipeline alone would drastically raise our regional methane emissions, which would negatively impact our ability to rein in climate change.
Besides the implications for our climate, at least 15 streams would be disrupted during spawning season for threatened salmon species, which will also negatively orcas ability to survive.
The safety risks for natural gas pipelines are tremendous, as we have seen recently in the Enbridge pipeline explosion in British Columbia, and a series of explosions that damaged more thyan 130 homes north of Boston in September.
This pipeline expansion doesn’t make sense. It will aid in the argument to expand the urban growth area east to Highway 9, which will create more traffic and taxes.
The public comment period is open now, and the county needs to hear from you. Contact Randy Middaugh at the county for information on commenting or attend a community meeting at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7th at Brightwater.
Kristin Kelly
Pilchuck Audubon Society
Snohomish
Sara Papanikolaou
Climate Organizer
Woodinville
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