Columbia Gas Files Lawsuit Against State College Borough Council

A controversial plan to run a high-pressure gas pipeline through some State College residential neighborhoods has now landed in court. But that does not mean efforts to reach a compromise have ended.

The dispute began when Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania asked permission to bury a pipeline under several borough streets, including Bellaire Avenue, University Drive, Prospect Avenue, and Burrowes Street.

The pipeline is needed to convert Penn State’s power plant from coal to natural gas.

Community activists fought back and pleaded with State College Borough Council to deny a right-of-way permit. In April, council members passed a resolution instructing State College Borough Manager Thomas Fountaine not to approve the permit.

That raised the possibility of a legal battle. Penn State then asked Columbia Gas to consider alternate routes which would keep the pipeline on campus.

The gas company asked State College Borough Council to “withdraw its permit application without prejudice” while the review was underway. The borough declined.

As a result, Columbia Gas has filed a lawsuit in the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. Columbia Gas spokesperson Russell Bedell says, “Columbia was compelled to file the appeal within the time period required by law to protect its rights during the distribution line route reconsideration process.”

Bedell goes on to say that, “Columbia and the Borough have agreed to stay the procedural schedule while Penn State and Columbia review alternative routes.”

For its part, State College officials released a statement late Thursday saying, “Council and staff understand that the public is extremely concerned about the natural gas pipeline. Concerns about safety and the need for transparency in decisions that affect the health, safety and welfare of the community have been heard by Council, and the Borough is fully committed to defending its position in not permitting this pipeline installation through residential neighborhoods.”

The statement goes on to say, “The Borough understands that the reevaluation of alternative routes for this project is complicated and will take time to complete. The Borough is appreciative of the effort by Penn State University to find an acceptable alternative and desire of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania to postpone further consideration of the litigation until the alternative routes are fully considered and selected for the installation of the natural gas pipeline.”

The borough says it will have no further comment.

No word yet on how long it will take to Columbia Gas to review alternate routes for the pipeline.