Today’s Topic: The costs related to the “Constitution” pipeline would be devastating to local communities.
Suggested Talking Points:
If the “Constitution” pipeline is built, its Houston- and Tulsa-based parent companies would reap huge profits. What would New York communities receive in return? Devastating economic, environmental, health and quality-of-life impacts.
One thousand acres of forest would be permanently clear-cut for this pipeline, guaranteeing more severe and costly floods.
Heavy construction vehicles used for building huge pipelines like this one would ravage small country roads, which are not engineered for such traffic. Local towns, not the pipeline company, would end up footing the bill for repairs—which often run in the millions—or paying costly legal fees to sue the companies for damages.
As Representative Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has said, “This is life or death. Pipelines blow up and people die.” Most of the towns along Constitution’s proposed route have small, underfunded volunteer fire and EMT departments that are not capable of handling high-pressure gas explosions.
The Southern Tier and Northwest Catskills depend on outdoor recreation and tourism for their economic survival. Replacing the regions’ pristine streams, fresh air and beautiful natural landscape with ravaged roads, deforested hillsides and muddied streams would severely harm their recreational tourism appeal.
Other businesses that depend on an environment free of the dangers of heavy industry would also suffer. These include farms, breweries, distilleries, wineries, u-pick operations, outdoor festivals and markets, bed-and-breakfasts, barn-wedding venues, garden centers, farm-to-table restaurants and rural real estate.
