Delaware County Employer Touts Benefits of Constitution Pipeline

A proposal to build a gas delivery pipeline through parts of the Southern Tier is getting support from some local industry in spite of concerns about safety that have been raised by citizen action and environmental groups.

Constitution Pipeline officials this week have showcased business leaders like Amphenol Aerospace General Manager Rick Aiken who said the Delaware County facility would have a better competitive edge if it had a chance of tapping into the natural gas pipeline.

If the development obtains federal approval, Amphenol would be one of four sites with a direct tap into the line.

Leatherstocking Gas Company and Constitution Pipeline has announced the plans for the four tap sites.

If the 125 mile pipeline obtains the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, construction could start at the beginning of next year.

Opponents say approval of the pipeline would streamline the approval of hydraulic fracture drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in New York State, which they claim has not been proven to be safe.