Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pipeline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
La Crosse board approves Northern Natural Gas riverbank stabilization plan
Summary
The La Crosse Board of Public Works unanimously approved Northern Natural Gas’s plan to install riprap and granular fill along the Mississippi River to protect a pipeline, including grading that extends roughly 37 feet beyond an existing 50-foot easement and temporary workspace provisions; permits and inspections will be handled by city staff.
The La Crosse Board of Public Works on Jan. 5 unanimously approved a request from Northern Natural Gas to install riprap and granular fill over an existing pipeline near the Mississippi River, a project company representatives said is scheduled to begin in May 2026.
Northern Natural Gas land agent Steven Sullivan told the board the work ‘‘will involve the installation of riprap and granular fill over our existing WIB 11,901 pipeline system near the bank of the Mississippi River’’ to ‘‘reinforce the existing cover over the pipeline and to protect the facility from erosion.’’ Sullivan said permit conditions from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources required a gradual sloped approach, which will result in grading that extends about 37 feet 5 inches beyond the existing 50-foot easement on both the north and south sides, for a total graded width of roughly 125 feet.
Michelle Richter, a consultant with Mergent working with Northern Natural Gas, told the board that some of the work is below the ordinary high-water mark and that state and federal agencies have conditioned aspects of the design. ‘‘It may be that Wisconsin DNR wants us to not replace trees in those areas because it will help with a threatened endangered species that’s in that area,’’ Richter said, noting the need to coordinate on environmental restrictions.
Director Gallagher, representing the city engineering office, told the board such work is ‘‘pretty routine’’ from a permitting perspective and recommended approval. Gallagher said the city would expect an excavation permit for work inside the easement and a temporary street-privilege permit to cover staging and access outside the easement, and that engineering and building inspection staff would jointly oversee periodic site visits during construction.
Sullivan said the company would provide pre- and post-construction photos for the record and that the contractor would be responsible for restoration costs; he said Northern Natural Gas has made arrangements with affected landowners and utility holders, including PB3 Steel LLC and Xcel Energy, where temporary workspace is needed.
With engineering recommending approval and no objections from board members, Director Gallagher made the motion to approve the request and to facilitate required permits; Council President Dickinson seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously to approve. City staff will work with Northern Natural Gas on permits, inspections and any required restoration or landowner compensation.
The board recorded that the project is scheduled to begin in May 2026 and that Northern Natural Gas has applied for the necessary city permits and for the federal and state authorizations cited during the presentation.
