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Cautious optimism greets plan for pipeline in bay

So far, a proposal to bring natural gas to the Weedon Island power plant holds promise for environmentalists.

By GRAHAM BRINK and MATTHEW WAITE
Published July 13, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - An energy company wants to build a 17.5 mile long pipeline beneath Tampa Bay to bring a steady flow of natural gas to the Weedon Island power plant.

The proposal presents an environmental puzzler.

The natural gas would help diminish air pollution and cut down on oil barge traffic. But the pipeline would slice through the heart of Tampa Bay, raising concerns for the natural habitat and residents' safety.

Gulfstream Natural Gas Systems, which wants to build the line, held a public forum Wednesday evening to discuss the idea and address concerns. Company officials assured questioners that the project would have minimal adverse impact on Tampa Bay.

So far, environmentalists seem cautiously optimistic.

Peter Clark of the environmental nonprofit group Tampa Bay Watch was encouraged that Gulfstream was seeking community involvement before submitting its formal proposal, and its construction methods appear environmentally friendly.

"They're going the extra mile," Clark said.

The proposed pipeline would connect the Weedon Island plant near the west end of the Gandy Bridge to the existing line that runs from Alabama to Port Manatee.

Switching to natural gas could reduce pollutants including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates by more than 90 percent, according to Gulfstream.

The company intends to file its formal construction application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in December. The proposal must pass muster with federal, state and local agencies before getting the green light.

If given the go-ahead, the company could begin construction in January 2008 and have the line in service nine months later.

"We want to hear about any problems or questions in advance of the filing," said Gulfstream spokesman Chris Stockton. "We don't want any surprises."

The company would dredge a narrow trench along most of the route, place the 20-inch-wide line inside and bury it at least three feet under the sea floor. A horizontal drill will burrow a tunnel under the boat channels.

A team of scientists from the University of South Florida, hired by Gulfstream, swam much of the proposed route looking for sensitive areas.

Team member Jennifer Dupont, a USF doctoral student in marine ecology, said she has been impressed by how the company will quickly redraw the route when it finds sea grass beds, sponges and other areas that need to be avoided.

The team will do further environmental surveys in the upcoming weeks.

"I'm fully satisfied with they way the route is being drawn," Dupont said.

Howard Rutherford, president of the Friends of Weedon Island, said Wednesday's public meeting was his first chance to hear details of the pipeline. The plans for a cleaner power plant held promise, Rutherford said, especially for the Weedon Island Preserve, which surrounds the power plant.

The top priority must be to avoid damaging the sea grass beds, which provide a habitat for fish and are particularly difficult to replace, he said.

"That would be of utmost concern to us," he said.

This line project does not include any drilling for new sources of natural gas. The pipeline is an extension of a 4-year-old line that runs from near Mobile, Ala., to Port Manatee.

The line would be monitored 24 hours a day and would include remotely operated shut off valves. Sensors will detect leaks and fires.

The new line is a key part of a planned $435-million renovation of the Progress Energy plant at Weedon Island. The project will more than double the generating capacity of the plant, built in 1958.

Graham Brink can be reached at brink@sptimes.com or 727 893-8406.

Q&A

What is the pipeline proposal?

To build a 17.5-mile-long, 20-inch-wide natural gas line under Tampa Bay from Port Manatee to the Progress Energy power plant at Weedon Island in Pinellas County.

Are there any oil or gas pipelines in Tampa Bay already?

One runs through the mouth of the bay to Port Manatee. This would be an extension of that 4-year-old pipeline, the first in the heart of the bay, according to the U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service, which regulates oil and gas pipelines and platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Why would this pipeline be built?

It is meant to replace the fuel oil that powers the Weedon Island plant with cleaner-burning natural gas. Gulfstream Natural Gas Systems says the switch would reduce certain air pollutants by more than 90 percent.

What is the timetable?

Gulfstream plans to start laying the pipeline in January 2008 and have it running by that September, depending on permitting.

What are the environmental concerns?

The company says construction would not harm the environment because the pipeline would be routed around sea grass beds and mangroves. But most of the pipeline would require dredging, which can pollute the water. Environmentalists so far seem encouraged by the company's plans and the benefits of cleaner burning fuel.

What happens if it springs a leak? How would that compare to an oil pipeline?

Natural gas would bubble up through water and dissipate in the air, Gulfstream says. The pipe is extensively tested and the chance of a leak is "very remote," the company says.

What happens next?

Gulfstream is surveying and conducting environmental reviews. It also met with state environmental regulators last month. Gulfstream plans to formally seek approval with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in December. Nineteen federal, state and local agencies in two states have a role in the project and any of them could stop it. Gulfstream plans to apply for two key permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in September.

Does this have anything to do with recent congressional action on offshore drilling?

No, this pipeline would be allowed under any of the oil drilling bills Congress has considered.

[Last modified July 16, 2006, 11:02:42]