Stephanie Croston

    Representatives of the Seward Citizens Committee on Pipeline Route shared their concerns about the proposed TransCanada Pipeline during the June 19 Seward City Council meeting.
     The proposed pipeline route is west of Seward and runs within 1.5 miles of the city's wellfield and water treatment plant. Jon Kruse and Richard Zwick, both of Seward, asked the council to consider an alternate route for the pipeline around Seward.
     One of their primary concerns is protecting the city's water supply in the event of a leak along the pipeline. According to A Spill Frequency Volume Study, Kruse said, a spill of between 50 and 1,000 barrels or up to 42,000 gallons may happen anywhere along the pipeline once in 12 years. A spill of more than 10,000 barrels might happen once in 50 years.
     In addition to the oil that would leach into the groundwater, Kruse reviewed the chemicals that are included in crude oil, among them benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene.
     "These compounds are more water soluble and can disperse further and more rapidly in both surface and ground waters than other crude oil substances," Kruse said. "These compounds pose a significant threat to water quality."
     For example, the Environmental Protection Agency allows just 5/1,000th part per million of benzene in drinking water. In addition, Kruse said, a study conducted by Iowa State University found that petroleum and crude oil products may leach through PVC pipe, which is what the city's water system uses, and contaminate the water.
     Kruse and Zwick suggested moving the pipeline to the east side of Seward, away from the wellfields and treatment plant.
     In a telephone interview conducted June 25, Jeff Rauh, public relations for the project, said the spill frequency study was done within the last two years specifically for the Keystone Pipeline project. Because the pipeline would be at least four feet below the surface, that helps reduce the probability of problems due to contact with outside equipment. The study is based only on statistics gleaned from historical data, he said.
     An article in the June 21 edition of the Omaha World-Herald said the pipeline would be 12 inches below the main that moves water from Seward's wellfield to the treatment plant. Rauh said 12 inches is the minimum distance between the oil pipeline and anything else.
     "With any crossing, we work with the owner," he said.
     The World-Herald also said that the "projection of leak risk in the Seward area is once every 900 years." Rauh said that number is based on an analysis of pipeline history.
     "We lower the frequency of potential problems because of the increased depth of the pipeline," he said.
     The council took no action on the matter. Mayor Roger Glawatz said the board would continue to discuss the pipeline in the future.
     The council also heard a complaint from Daneen Kovar Theye about drainage and flooding at her home at 748 North Fifth. She told the council that she can't plant grass or do any landscaping on approximately half of her lot.
     Dan Berlowitz, city administrator, said drainage problems are not new in that area. The storm sewer was built to handle a 10-year rain event, which is the standard for engineering.
     The drainage basin covers an area from Pinewood and North Columbia to North Eighth Street. When major rain falls, the storm sewer system cannot handle the run-off and backs up into low-lying areas.
     The city conducted studies in 1960 and 1987 and updated the information in 1992. After each study, the council chose to take no action because of the high cost of improvements and lack of flood damage to residences in the area. The city has installed rip rap at the inlet and built an earth berm in an effort to limit the flooding. One difficulty, however, is not disrupting the natural drainway.
     The council took no action on the matter, but Mayor Roger Glawatz said it would be an area of continued study.
     In an unrelated matter, the council amended the Electric Department's policy on transformer and primary line installations.
     Currently, the policy states that transformers and primary lines are to be installed in the rear lot lines with the option to be put in the front of lots in new subdivisions. Berlowitz said the city should keep the option of putting the transformers on the rear lot line in instances where it made economic sense and was more efficient.
     In some cases, the rear electrical easements are blocked by fences, shrubs, sheds and other buildings.
     In 1991, the council authorized the transformers in the area bounded by Bek, Pinewood, Karol Kay and Kolterman to be moved to the rear lots. They were never moved.
     After discussion, the council approved the policy change, allowing the Electric Department to have the option of the front or rear lot, depending on economics and efficiency.
     In another matter, the council approved clarifications of the rules and regulations at the Seward Cemetery. Included were the speed limit in the cemetery, the kinds of tributes that may be placed on headstones and bans on barriers like chains, hedges or railings and planting shrubs, flowers, bulbs, trees and other items.
     In other business, the council:
     • after a public hearing at which no one spoke, adopted a resolution revising the city's economic development plan to add a section on goals and objectives, provide more definition in the public works/infrastructure section, expand types of financial assistance and delete a section identifying a set interest rate;
     • after a public hearing at which one person spoke, adopted a resolution authorizing the city to act as the applicant for the economic development category of the Community Development Block Grant program to provide operational support for the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project;
     • adopted an ordinance issuing $405,000 in general obligation bonds to pay for paving North Fourth Street and Karol Kay Boulevard;
     • approved a special designated liquor permit for Seward Bowl/Sparetime Lounge for a street dance and poker run Saturday, July 21;
     • amended an agreement with Seward County for relocating city electrical lines along Izaak Walton Road when the road is widened and paved to include county reimbursement of $2,068 for the relocations;
     • adopted a resolution removing signs banning pickups, trucks and vans from certain parking stalls in downtown Seward;
     • adopted a resolution limiting the speed to 25 mph on Columbia Avenue from Maple Street to Waverly Road;
     • confirmed the reappointments of Claudia Horton to the Cemetery Board for a three-year term and Larry Goldsmith II to the Tree Board for a three-year term;
     • approved the consent agenda, which included minutes, claims, the clerk-treasurer's report and the building inspector's report.