Island Dispatch, 1990-01-12

              ISLAND DISPATCH With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND, NY • 773-7676 VOL. 46 NO. 44 • Jan. 12,1990 24 PAGES 36* Troubled Bridge Over Winter Waters Despite the wintry weather, reconstruction work on the northbound north bridge continues. One lane is closed to traffic during daylight non-rush hours so rehabilitative work can be ongoing to the superstructure of the bridge. Major reconstruction will begin in spring closing the bridge altogether and diverting traffic to the southbound north bridge. I'hot., by Barbi Late Weather THE OLD Farmer's Almanac says: Jan. 13: cold snap, snow. Jan. 16-18: sunny, mild. Jan. 19: freezing rain, snow. Pipeline Objections At Wheatfield Hearing A STANDING room only crowd of more than 250, mostly Islanders, overflowed the Wheatfield Town Hall Wednesday night to listen to and give testimony against the proposed Empire Gas Pipeline route across the Island. A petition with more than 4500 names, garnered in less than four days, was presented to Judge Walter T. Moynihan oy Mary Ellen Wozniak of Harvey Rd. In her statement she accused Empire employees of "sneaking, lying and refusing to get off her property," sentiments echoed by others whose land was being surveyed for the pipeline route. Not all speakers were along the proposed route. Legislator Chuck Swanick spoke on behalf of his constituents and presented more than 16 letters from residents opposed to the pipeline. Sam Akinbami of West River, representing GICAP (Grand Island Citizens Against the Pipeline), read a statement by Councilwoman Marion Fabiano who is a member of the Hazardous Material Plan Committee. The statement, in part, read "The high pressure Gas pipeline proposed for installation on Grand Island would present an unusually high risk to all residents of Grand Island. It would cross the Thruway less than a 1/2 mile from the south bridges - one of our limited access routes - high risk. The proposedproposed pipeline would be less than a mile from the Grand Island High School/Middle School Complex - 2000 population and less than three miles from both elementary schools, Kaegebein and Huth - 1400 population - high risk. "If we look at the incidents involving gas pipelines, we must assume that the entire Town of Grand Island and our population of 20,000 would be put in a high risk situation. Technical deficiencies, mechanical equipment failure, earth movement including earthquakes, weather, vehicles, willful damage and other unknown causes could present incidents that would be impossible to respond to in an emergency. The ability of the Grand Island Volunteer Fire Co. to respond successfully to an explosive fire for example, would depend on the coordinated efforts of many emergency response agencies located off Grand Island - limited access - high risk. " Akinbami also presented his own testimony and showed a map which the company had published in November issues of the Dispatch which did not even show the Island route favored by the company. He also showed a film of a pipeline explosion detailing the extensive damage caused by the severing of a line by power equipment. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 Weekend At A Glance FRIDAY AM. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE, X of C Hall. Whitehaven Rd.. 17 P.M. PRESCHOOL STORY HOUR. GI Memorial Library. Bedell Rd.. 10* 11:15 A.M. SATURDAY CHILDREN'S MOVIE PROGRAM, GI Memorial Library. Bedell Rd.. 2 P.M. SUNDAY ST. STEPHENS HOLY NAME SOCIETY FAMILY COMMUNION BREAKFAST, X of C Hall. Whitehaven Rd.. following 9 A.M. mass (reservations) o