CLEVELAND — Opponents of a high-pressure natural gas pipeline expected to be built across the northern
half of Ohio are clinging to the wings of a furry flier, the northern long-eared bat, in their efforts
to at least delay the $2 billion project.
The existence of the threatened species remains one of the impediments the partnership between
Houston-based Spectra Energy and Detroit’s DTE Energy face before receiving expected approval to build
the 255-mile long NEXUS pipeline capable of transporting 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day from the
shale fields of Appalachia into Michigan and Ontario, Canada.
NEXUS cleared a big hurdle in November when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an
environmental impact statement that found no problems with the company’s proposed route. NEXUS now
awaits the Commission’s approval to begin construction, a step that could be delayed when one of its
three Commission members resigned last week.
Opponents of the project in Ohio’s Summit and Medina counties aren’t backing down from a fight that began
with efforts to get the pipeline rerouted away from homes and businesses to less populated areas. The
Commission ruled in the impact statement that alternative routes proposed by the city of Green in
southern Summit County held no environmental advantages over the one proposed by NEXUS.
The existence of northern long-eared bats, classified as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, along the proposed route means NEXUS isn’t completely out of the woods. The bats live
in caves and other sheltered spots during winter months and nest in trees during spring and summer. Its
threatened status means trees in their habitats are not supposed to be felled between April 1 and Sept.
30.
Pipeline opponents hope the bats will cause further delays if the Commission doesn’t allow the company to
fell trees after March 31.
"Time is our friend and their foe," said Jon Strong, of Medina County, where about 450 feet of
the pipeline is slated to be built along the edge of his property.
A NEXUS spokesman said in an email that the pipeline remains on schedule to be completed and ready to
ship gas late this year.
In the environmental impact statement, NEXUS said it’s preparing a contingency plan if the company needs
to cut down trees during spring and summer that would include data on the number of bats likely to be
killed.
Strong, along with Medina County resident Paul Gierosky, and other leaders in the pipeline fight have
devoted countless hours the last two years trying to convince NEXUS and the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission that the route should be moved south, away from backyards and neighborhoods, to farmland
where the existence of a 36-inch-wide pipeline carrying potentially explosive natural gas would have
less effect on people’s lives and property values. Farmers are allowed to grow crops over buried
pipelines. Structures can’t be built over top of them.
More than 100 property owners in Medina and Summit counties, including the city of Green, have refused to
allow NEXUS surveyors on their land to stake out the pipeline route. The property owners’ attorneys say
they expect NEXUS to use eminent domain to conduct surveys and take land they need.
Opponents also question NEXUS’ need after the Commission last week approved a project that also crosses
northern Ohio and travels into Michigan and Canada and has the capacity to carry 3.25 billion cubic feet
of gas per day.
While opponents have acknowledged they’re engaged in a rearguard action, the fight against NEXUS for
Gierosky has become far bigger.
"This has become more of a mission and passion when you see such a horrible wrong and such a
screwed-up process," he said. "It’s become a calling."