Potential Natural Gas Pipeline Causing Issues for Bucks County Residents

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Tom Cuce lives on a peaceful 21-acre property with his fiancee on Richill Road in West Rockhill Township.

He's disappointed compressor engines could soon disrupt the tranquility and value of his land.

"Money and profits should not be put before people's lives. It's gonna be 500 feet from my house, 250 feet from that residence over there. The same with the farmhouse on the other side," said Cuce.

Pending state and federal approval, Adelphia Gateway will build a "Quakertown Compressor Station" which would pump out natural gas, around the clock, to another refinery in Marcus Hook, Delaware County. One of Cuce's neighbor's has their house going up for auction Wednesday and he has thoughts of moving himself.

"I'm not gonna stick around and endanger my health and live in fear," said Cuce.

"It is this last parcel. One more parcel over, it would've been Richland's (Township) problem," said West Rockhill Township manager Greg Lippincott.

Lippincott says a letter was written to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to try and stop the deal.

"In Pennsylvania, usually it's the local municipalities that are in charge of land use. It is the first time in 20 years that a federal government overrules the township and is the decision maker," said Lippincott.​

As for Cuce, he says he's reached out to state and federal legislators for help but to no avail.

"I'm finding out everyday how bad the system works where regular people don't have any constitutional rights," said Cuce.

Adelphia Gateway offered a statement Tuesday afternoon saying: "Adelphia Gateway is a critical project that will serve the constrained markets of the greater Philadelphia region. We are also committed to having as minimal an impact on the community and environment as possible, and the Pennsylvania DEP’s Air Quality Hearings are an important part of that process. The compressor stations proposed for West Rockhill Township and Lower Chichester Township are necessary to maintain pressure on the pipeline to safely delivered natural gas to the intended users. We have met with West Rockhill Township and engaged nearby residents about this projects, and worked to incorporate their feedback where possible. As a result, we have made a number of design modifications, including the size and height of the compressor stations. We look forward to continuing to work with DEP and the local communities to bring clean and affordable natural gas to the Greater Philadelphia market.

 Courtesy: www.wfmz.com