Island Dispatch, 1992-07-03

              24 PAGES VOL. 49 • NO. 14 JULY 3, 1992 With The GRAND ISLAND NEWS  GRAND ISLAND, NY (716) 773-7676  50* Grand Island Puts On A Great Parade See For Yourself Tomorrow For complete parade line-up, see center pages SERVING THE GRAND ISLAND COMMUNITY SINCE 1944 ISLAND DISPATCH Canadian Board Approves Pipeline THE CANADIAN National Energy Board (NEB) Tuesday reversed a previous decision and approved an application by TransCanada Pipelines, Ltd. to construct its Blackhorse Extension line from Thorold to Chippawa, Ontario. "At that point the Blackhorse Extension would interconnect with proposed facilities of the Empire State Pipeline in me United States," NEB stated in its news release. The announcement has caused great concern to Grand Island and Wheatfield officials and all other opponents who since 1989 have been fighting Empire's proposal to have the Canadian line enter the United States at Staley Road on the Island and continue across the East Niagara River and burying on into Wheatficld. On Grand Island, if allowed, the natural gas facility would involve digging through numerous residential areas. The National Energy Board in its announcement dated June 29, 1992, stated, in part: 'The decision is a result of public hearings held in May 1992 at Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta, to review the Board's decision of July, 1991 to deny TransCanada permission to build the Blackhorse Extension and its associated faciliUes. "The proposed facilities, estimated to cost $39 million, would involve construction of a 20.6 kilometre (12.8 mile) pipeline extending from the Blackhorse metering station near Thorold, Ontario to a new export point at Chippawa, Ontario. At that point the Blackhorse Ux.tena.ioi. would interconnect with proposed facilities of the Empire State Pipeline in the United States. The facilities would allow Canadian and US gas supplies to be delivered to the New York State market. "In its July 1991 Decision, the Board found that the proposed Empire markets could be served in a timely fashion by less expensive and environmentally superior means through expansion of TransCanada's already built Niagara line which connects with existing American pipelines. The alternatives however, are no longer viable in the foreseeable future because they have been rejected by American regulators and no new applications have been made. The Board also found that despite its earlier Decision, the Blackhorsc/Empirc customers and regulatory and energy policy agencies have made it clear through their subsequent actions that they desire an independent, alternative source of gas supply. The Board says in its Reasons for Decision that putting one of the existing Parade Photo Of Yesteryear Members of the Grand Island High School Band check their instruments before marching in the town's 4th of July parade circa early 70s. This year marks the 24th annual edition of the parade which has become a summertime Island tradition. WEATHER: The Old Farmer's Almanac says - July 4: showers. July 5-8: sunny & hot. July 9-10: showers, seasonable. CONTINUED ON PACE 9