MOUNT VERNON — An agreement has been reached between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. resolving the unauthorized clearing along a pipeline in the Mohican State Forest. In March, a maintenance crew under contract with Columbia Transmission mistakenly cleared a 282-foot section of forest to a 50-foot width.
 LOUDONVILLE -- While clearing trees on private property last week, a maintenance crew working for Columbia Gas Transmission mistakenly also cut trees in the Mohican State Forest. Columbia Gas Transmission and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have reached an agreement that will reduce the ecological impact of tree and undergrowth clearing around gas storage wells in the Mohican Memorial State Forest and Mohican State Park. More than 30 hikers, cyclists, birders and nature enthusiasts took the opportunity Monday night to voice their concerns about a proposal to clear trees in and around the Mohican State Memorial Forest. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. will host a public meeting Monday, Oct. 23, to inform citizens about details of its right of way and well-site maintenance plans in Mohican-Memorial State Forest. A large crowd was on hand at Mohican Resort and Conference Center on Tuesday night to talk with members of Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. about its plans to clear areas in the Mohican State Memorial Forest and Mohican State Park. Columbia Transmission has said it plans to clear about 2.5 miles of pipeline right of way to a width of 50 feet, and to remove trees around 10 wellheads in 2006. More clearing is planned for the future. Conservation groups are up in arms about a proposed plan by Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. to clear trees in and around the Mohican State Forest. |
According to an investigation conducted by Tim Humphrey, ODNR forest manager, Columbia Gas employees were using an outdated map which led them to believe they were still on private property. The crew stated it did not see the boundary markings indicating it was on state land. In addition, he said, no Columbia Transmission personnel were present at the time of the cutting, and no Columbia personnel visited the site prior to the cutting.
“It would have seemed prudent to have someone visit the site [prior to the cutting,]” he said. “We just feel that this might have been avoided.
“The investigation also shows there was no malicious intent to disregard the agreement and ‘just move ahead,’” he added.
“We reviewed our options with the attorney general, and we think what we have come up with is in the best interest of the forest,” said Andy Ware, ODNR Division of Forestry. “In order to make sure this doesn’t happen again, Columbia crews will visit, with Tim and his staff, each place where the pipeline crosses state boundaries. We’ll share maps and GIS information.
“Columbia has agreed to provide gates and signage at these sites, and has also agreed to have one of their personnel present when working on state property.”
In addition, Ware said Columbia has agreed to give two weeks advance notice when working on state land, and at least one week’s notice when working on private property adjacent to state land. This includes not just Mohican State Forest, but throughout the state. Columbia crews are also working in the Hocking Hills region.
“Another key part of the agreement is we will sit down with Columbia and now discuss pipelines,” said Ware. “This incident certainly brought the issue of the pipelines back up.”
An agreement reached in February only covered how clearing would be handled around well heads; an agreement about pipeline clearing was to have been negotiated later. Ware said ODNR began working with Columbia this week to determine how pipelines would be handled, with the goal of having an agreement by Sept. 3.
“Our goal is to come up with some type of agreement that has little impact on the forest but still allows Columbia to work on their pipelines,” he said.
Ware said it is important for the public to understand the history of Columbia’s presence in the area, and why there are underground wells in a recreational area. Columbia has agreed to create an informational kiosk that will explain the underground storage sites and safety issues surrounding them.
ODNR and Columbia have agreed that the 282-foot area which was mistakenly cleared will be used as a test site. According to Ware, half will be allowed to return to natural vegetation, half will be replanted with low- to mid-canopy type vegetation.
The logs cut by Columbia, valued at $600, will be transported to Malabar Farm State Park to be used for educational demonstrations at the park’s sawmill. Columbia will have the smaller logs split, cut and transported to Mohican State Park. They will be sold as firewood to campers.
“We think that’s the best possible use of the material at this point,” said Ware.
The agreement also calls for Columbia to make a $10,000 donation to ODNR for the creation of an American chestnut plantation at Mohican State Forest. Ware said a blight in the early 1900s decimated the American chestnut population in the eastern United States. ODNR will work with the Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation on the research plot.
“After careful review of the available options, we believe this agreement is in the best interest of one of our most popular and biologically unique state forests,” said David Lytle, chief of the ODNR Division of forestry in a statement. “It both adds safeguards against further unauthorized cutting and provides startup funds that will be dedicated to supporting an American chestnut restoration project at Mohican.”
Ware said other groups involved with Mohican State Forest, such as the horseman’s council and the mountain bike organization, support the agreement reached between ODNR and Columbia. Attorney Nolan Moser said the Ohio Environmental Council also supports the agreement.
“We think the agreement overall is good,” he said. “We think the $10,000 for the American chestnut plantation is interesting. ... It’s a fantastic step ODNR is taking.”
Regarding the timeline of Sept. 3 to reach an agreement on pipeline clearing, Moser said, “We appreciate ODNR trying to negotiate before it litigates.”
However, he added, he hopes ODNR will “hold the line on the public’s rights and state property rights” and litigate if an agreement can’t be reached.
He also said that when options and solutions were researched, the only applicable law was a timber trespass law that carries a fine of $50.
“It’s a very, very outdated law,” said Moser. “It’s unconscionable that someone could come and cut on private property, and pay at most $50.”
He said the OEC will lobby the Statehouse to have the law changed.
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