Pipeline work can continue at state natural area
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee environmental officials have given Piedmont Natural Gas permission to resume drilling on a Nashville pipeline project.
Work was halted on May 11 when a mixture of bentonite clay and water spilled from a drill into Otter Creek at the Radnor Lake State Natural Area.
The mud was later scraped out of the creek using buckets and hand tools.
Meredith Benton, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, told The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/199LA54 ) that Piedmont agreed to 11 new terms and conditions to prevent a recurrence of the spill.
Those include creating a pit to capture any spilled slurry and daily water quality monitoring.
Benton said the department has not decided whether to issue fines or citations.
