County, Enbridge come to agreements on pipeline project
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent October 20, 2012 6:52PM
Updated: November 22, 2012 6:47AM
CROWN POINT — A site tour of the regulated and unregulated Lake County drains that Enbridge Energy Co. Inc. will cross with its new pipeline is planned by the company and surveyor’s office.
Lake County Surveyor George Van Til and Tom Fridel, director of U.S. operations for the Schererville-based corporation, met Wednesday to discuss the project and the county’s safety concerns if an accident were to occur.
“We feel very positive of the concessions made here today,” Van Til said.
The surveyor said the company has agreed to reinforce the pipeline with a thicker material at each drain it will underpass. The inside diameter of the pipe will remain the same so the flow of fuel will not be impeded.
“We were pleased they agreed to do that today,” said Thomas Burke, surveyor’s office consulting engineer from Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. Burke said the county and company are still looking at issues including safety valves and berms.
The site tour will allow the county to show the areas of concern to the company first hand.
Van Til said there are still concerns residents have about the project and the removal of long-standing trees in easements that will be necessary to make way for the second pipeline that will follow the path of the first.
“There are legitimate concerns by people what effect it will have, but that is not our purview,” Van Til said.
Fridel via email said the meeting went well. “We have received various questions and safety concerns regarding the project,” he said. He said the company will continue to work on securing the necessary permits require for construction. Officials are hopeful construction will begin in early 2013.
The Lake County Drainage Board deferred action on the project to allow time for the site visit.
