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Council approves permanent gas easements; staff say bore under Eau Claire River will minimize impacts
Summary
Council granted three permanent gas easements to Northern States Power Company to relocate a 12‑inch main under the Eau Claire River and city parcels; staff and commissioners said undergrounding adds safety features and minimizes surface disruption.
The council approved a resolution granting three permanent gas easements to Northern States Power Company to relocate a 12‑inch gas main under the Eau Claire River and through city parcels (listed in the agenda packet). Staff described a bored installation that would pass beneath the river at a depth of about 30 feet and through Archery Park, with deeper bores approaching 100 feet under certain city parcels; no tree impacts were expected and affected landscaping would be reconstructed as needed.
Staff noted the relocation replaces a current configuration that is mounted to the bottom of the highway and is more exposed to damage. Council members on the Waterways and Parks Commission relayed that the commission recommended approval and that the underground option contains additional safety features such as valves and shutoffs, reducing risk compared with the present mounting. Council debated minimal landscape impacts and accepted the recommendation, approving the easements on roll call.
