s.a.v.e. is a non-profit community organization whose aim is to sustain the southern chester county...
TRANSCRIPT
S.A.V.E. is a non-profit community organization whose aim is to sustain the southern Chester County region’s rural quality of life and community character through influencing infrastructure and land use planning that fosters conservation, environmental protection, and safety.
Smart Planning
Created in 1997 in response to local highway expansion and induced Sprawl Sprawl refers to the flight of city or suburban dwellers to the beauty, quality of lifestyle, fresh air and open space of rural land.However, with Sprawl comes:
Costly initial development of new infrastructure to support a larger population.More residentsLong transportation distances to workMore trafficMore pollution per personIncreased demands on land and water resourcesLoss of open spaceLoss of Historic resourcesHigher taxes
Rural Sprawl often takes small communities by surprise – Overwhelming the capacity for planning and land use enforcement.
www.save41.org101 East Street Road101 East Street Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348Kennett Square, PA 19348610-925-0041610-925-0041
[email protected]@save41.org
““Growth is inevitable and Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction desirable, but destruction of community character of community character is not. The question is is not. The question is not not whetherwhether your part of your part of the world is going to the world is going to change. The question is change. The question is howhow.” .”
-Edward T. McMahon, Edward T. McMahon, The Conservation FundThe Conservation Fund
The combination of concern about the natural environment
farm land protection safety, as it relates to the expansion of infrastructure
led to the natural involvement of S.A.V.E. in pipeline issues.
WHY S.A.V.E. APPLIED FOR A TAG
The Columbia gas line currently runs through Chester and Lancaster Counties.The AES Mid-Atlantic Express LNG line is proposed to run concurrent with the Columbia line.In addition to 7 Chester County municipalities, the project encompasses a region with significant natural areas wherein a pipeline construction and/or failure pose tremendous riskThe Right-of-Way (ROW) for Columbia and Mid-Atlantic passes through the Octorara, Elk and Brandywine Creek watersheds and the largest area of contiguously protected area of private and public open space on the Mid-Atlantic seaboardThe ROW passes through Class A prime agricultural lands The ROW passes through areas containing endangered species.
Pipeline incidents may be rare however increasing population density around pipeline systems in Chester County has led to an increased risk to humans, the built environment, and environmentally sensitive natural features. Poor communication exist between the public and pipeline operators, heightening riskRisk can be reduced through improved information sharing and communication on best practices.Sprawl has resulted in houses being located in close proximity to pipelines necessitating emergency response and other safety education programs.Pipeline safety concerns should be incorporated into every level of the land development and land use planning processes. Although pipeline operators are responsible for ensuring the safety of their existing and new transmission lines, fostering open dialog among all stakeholders and engaging an informed public may significantly reduce risk factors
AES Corp. of Virginia – The Mid-Atlantic Express 88-mile pipeline between Sparrows Point, Md. and Eagle, Chester County.
32 miles in Chester County.Construction affecting: 400+ landowners, 2,500 preserved acres, a minimum
20 streams and tributaries, including the historic Brandywine Creek.
NPMS Pipeline Data current as of 2006
TAG Project Goals
Provide technical assistance, informational resources, and outreach to all stakeholders in affected communities Undertake a safety and land use analysis of the transmission pipelines through municipalities in the designated areaInform and engage the public regarding their role of fostering the safety and reliability of pipeline operations and regarding regulatory processesEstablish a central organization contact point for the public to seek and obtain information and guidance and which will serve to facilitate enhanced communicationsCreate a more informed public and elected officials at all levels (local, county, state and federal) in order to strengthen the depth and quality of public participation in pipeline safety matters and official proceedingsImprove communications between pipeline operators and the communityEnhance community safety, and foster damage prevention.
How? Review proposed Mid-Atlantic pipeline path alternatives and land use impacts (including safety and emergency management considerations, wildlife and endangered species, historic resources, watersheds and water quality, conservation easements, population density, damage prevention)
Review ordinances in the designated geographic area and coordinate improvement of ordinances through review and creation of a Model Ordinance for safety, land use designations, and emergency management regarding existing and potential/proposed pipelines
Provide technical assistance and outreach to municipalities regarding best practices and implementation of ordinance revisions based on initial review
Provide public outreach/educationEngage the community and elected officialsCreate hard copy informational pieces and mailings
Develop mailing lists of appropriate citizens, elected officials, agency, officials, and pipeline representatives
Present public seminars using power point and distribution of educational information
Create a web site as a resource for citizens and municipalities on best practices, model ordinances, and emergency response procedures with links to other resources
[email protected]@savepa.org610.925.0041610.925.0041FAX 610.925.3172FAX 610.925.3172101 East Street Road101 East Street RoadKennett Square, PA 19348Kennett Square, PA 19348
By creating a more informed public and elected officials at all levels (local, county, state and federal) the project will serve to strengthen the depth and quality of public participation in pipeline safety matters and official Proceedings, improve communications between pipeline operators and the community, and enhance community safety by fostering damage prevention
Southern Chester County